Playing drums sans shoes?

[mattitude]

So my friend came over last night to rock. He got the game himself and he's been practicing like crazy on the drums.

He sat down to play and promptly removed his shoes. That never even occurred to me. He said it was easier to control his foot for those fast, double-bass notes, and puts less pressure on the pedal. Makes sense to me.

Anybody else do this?

[DesiredFX]

Absolutely. Gives me a better feel for the pedal and so helps me to remember not to stomp too hard--this way, I'm likely to break my foot before the pedal.

[MdubMedia]

It's funny, I never thought of wearing shoes...haha

[drno830]

I play without shoes most of the time. When I play with shoes, it just feels awkward and hard to control

[tombrady]

i just wear a sock never shoes :P

[High_School_Legend]

I'm with your friend 100%. It makes it so much easier to play "Welcome Home" on expert drums! :)

[Supergeek]

At home, I wear nothing, or socks. To drum, that is.

[Apples]

I find shoes can actually be beneficial since they add extra weight... but I have a really stiff pedal compared to others I have tried.

[Chris_Gonzalez]

At home, I wear nothing, or socks. To drum, that is.

"And don't leave your socks on when you make whoopie or whatever the hell you call it; he hates that." -- Brodie from Mallrats.

I, too, play without shoes most of the time. I advise everyone playing the drumset to also, but I have to disinfect it. My feet get sweaty after a while.

[DaMan12]

anyone who is dumb enough to wear shoes on this PLASTIC pedal is just asking for it to break.

[davidshek]

I, too, play without shoes most of the time. I advise everyone playing the drumset to also, but I have to disinfect it. My feet get sweaty after a while.

Negative sir, I play real drums with shoes, and it just follows that I play RB drums with shoes. Feels really odd playing without, and I find I get alot more consistent leverage with my foot if there's a solid piece of rubber attached to it :)

"What, you mean like the back seat of a Volkswagon??"

[Black_Heaven]

"That kid is back on the escalater again!"

Sorry I couldn't resist, wanted to be part of the "lets quote Mallrats" movement.

Anyways, since I don't allow shoes to be worn in my room playing the drums without them just happens.

[Amish Robot]

Always rock out with your sock out!

*groan* :p

[Teh_Nfsjunkie91]

A friend came over with shoes on...

and broke my pedal. So yeah, I don't wear shoes.

[davidshek]

A friend came over with shoes on...

and broke my pedal. So yeah, I don't wear shoes.

Hmm...well maybe you had already weakened it and he just dealt it the killing blow! :)

[*TsuBasa*]

i immediately decided when i got it that anyone who would be touching my expensive drum hardware would be doing it without shoes. Didn't want it to get dirty or broken. =D
But i play barefoot as well.....

[TheHorde]

i also play barefoot just more comfortable that way for me and it will make your pedal last a lil longer

[Harsher]

I play barefoot or with a sock on. And I try to play really soft because even as soft as I hit the bass pedal it feels like its going to break. What a cheap piece of plastic man. :(

[Conner Malvecino]

Heck the replacement drummer for the Max Weinberg 7 "Worm" plays without shoes.
However, remember that wearing shoes is preventive measure for hygiene concerns. You never know if one of your pals has fungal or athlete's foot issues.

[Frederf]

Either shoes or barefoot. Socks just slip and slide way too much. Shoes have already made my pedal have too much slop in the hinge due to the extra force. Barefoot is definitely win.

[dammen]

Why do you wear shoes indoors in the first place? =)

[Frederf]

Cuz I'm a round-eye.

[tomahawk72]

I always wear shoes when playing. I tried it once without shoes and it was a no go. It doesn't feel right.
My pedal is fine and I probably have 30+ solid hours of drumming alone. And I don't worry about it breaking. I just get into a song and rock out. If it breaks oh well. I'll just fix it myself.

[kvasyslicer]

Well, I used to play with shoes and socks, but I quickly started taking off my shoes, and then I realized that socks ARE pointless. Helped me a lot, and I'm a nub!

[davidshek]

I always wear shoes when playing. I tried it once without shoes and it was a no go. It doesn't feel right.
My pedal is fine and I probably have 30+ solid hours of drumming alone. And I don't worry about it breaking. I just get into a song and rock out. If it breaks oh well. I'll just fix it myself.

Exactly! That's what I was trying to say, you just said it better!

[nicko68]

Why do you wear shoes indoors in the first place? =)

Are you Canadian like me? We don't wear shoes inside, but a lot of Americans seem to.

[AdamBomb629]

Absolutely. Gives me a better feel for the pedal and so helps me to remember not to stomp too hard--this way, I'm likely to break my foot before the pedal.

QFT..........

[Highlandlassie]

Without a doubt.
We started doing this years ago with racing game for the gas and brake pedals.
It is easier on the pedals, but with the Rockband bass pedal, you need to reinforce it, because it will break, sooner or later, shoes or not.
I have had 2 break already, and I am not hard on the pedal.

[guan69]

My g/f & I have been playing the drumkit in our socks or barefoot. The only time I thought about playing it with shoes on is when I think about hosting Rock Band parties because I know I'm going to have to tell everyone to remove their shoes.

[topperharley]

Socks for me. I don't wear shoes inside, and with all of the talk about how breakable the bass pedal seemed to be, I decided to take the safe route. Plus, it's a plastic pedal, so it doesn't feel uncomfortable without shoes. If it were a real, metal bass pedal, for a real drum kit, I would probably wear shoes.

[airbakin]

Shoes or Socks / Barefeet????

I give you the happy medium solution: Aqua Socks

[dammen]

Are you Canadian like me? We don't wear shoes inside, but a lot of Americans seem to.

Swedish actually :) We don't wear shoes inside either. I've never understood wearing shoes inside, must be alot to clean up and your feet is bound to get bad easier with no air and all that.

[davidshek]

Shoes or Socks / Barefeet????

I give you the happy medium solution: Aqua Socks

You mean these? (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/dB-Groove-Drum-Shoes?sku=414070) (clicky) :)

[BioSector]

Are you Canadian like me? We don't wear shoes inside, but a lot of Americans seem to.


QFT. Always seems strange to me when I go to someone's house and they tell me to leave my shoes on.

Shoes go outside, people go inside.

[Electric_Zen]

Cuz I'm a round-eye.

That made me laugh. My wife and I picked up the habit of leaving our shoes at the door from our Asian friends. So neither of us ever considered bringing our shoes upstairs and putting them on to play drums.

[airbakin]

You mean these? (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/dB-Groove-Drum-Shoes?sku=414070) (clicky) :)

Nice david, I've never seen those before....

I actually played a gig a few years ago in aqua socks after I kicked a blood blister on the bottom of my foot the size of a golfball after playing in an arena (battle of the bands) show in barefeet :eek:

But all in all I usually start with shoes but may take them off later if I need better kick control...

[SoulScreme]

I always play barefoot. After a long day, my sock are by far the grossest thing ever.

[davilan3k]

No shoes....sometimes no sock...:D

[TuRDMaN]

If anyone tried to wear their shoes in my house on my carpet (nevermind the drumset), I'd kick them in the balls and make them be the permanent vocalist. And yeah, I'm a round-eye (of the Canadian variety).

[Eman311]

Shoes inside, but off to play the drums.

I guess Americans are lazy.

[ThePaska]

I've never played with shoes on. I find it easier this way, although with socks on sometimes my foot slips up the pedal. I also feel like I'm less likely to break the pedal with my shoes off.

[Fuggity]

I started playing with shoes on and it didn't feel right once I moved up to expert. Now I play with my right shoe off but I leave my left one on.

[JB4GDI]

I'm used to drumming with sneakers or dress shoes on, so I usually play with sneakers.

That being said, I tried drumming barefoot for the first time ever last week, and I noticed I was a lot more precise on songs that had a lot of quick bass drum hits. It was pretty sweet.

Unfortunately I live in New England, and no matter how warm your house is, your feet always get cold. So I can't really go for long stretches.

-Jaime

[davidshek]

I actually played a gig a few years ago in aqua socks after I kicked a blood blister on the bottom of my foot the size of a golfball after playing in an arena (battle of the bands) show in barefeet :eek:

I have the same problem, but with my hands. I use the Ahead drumming gloves:
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/regular/4/3/1/257431.jpg

If I don't, I get horrible blisters on my hands. Plus they help sticks not fly out of my hands! :D

[AVC808]

in Hawaii its customary to take off your shoes before entering a house. :)

[Darpan Zind]

Barefoot or sock here. Seems easier to me and I don't seem to stomp on the peda. Of course, I also have a no shoes in the house policy so that anyone playing my drums will be shoeless.

[Tarzanman]

I've played in shoes, socks and barefoot.

Socks work best on the stock plastic pedal.... but I reinforced mine with two metal strips so I have to play barefoot to get grip (I might add fly-paper later, but maybe not).

In my opinion, playing in shoes would be too rough on the little plastic kick. They are already weak and prone to breaking. Using shoes on expert/hard will just make it break even faster