In the duo, where I'm a solo rhythm section, it is my toe. In a band situation with a drummer, only during gaps, and then usually by actually counting by bouncing my head.
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Toe or Heel?
- Thread starter RichardW
- Start date
Doya get paid more than the regular boppers?
I'm heel on the floor when seated, otherwise ... a head bopper.
Never been a foot guy, but I find that there is some benefit to moving you hips and torso with the large beat (the "one"). I'm trying to do some hip-hop-inspired stuff right now, and it's impossible for me to get the feel right unless I'm moving my core with that big eight count.
I am most definitely a heel tapper.
For many years now I've been a one-man-rhythm-section playing bass while playing kick and snare pedals with my feet on a Woodskin Cajon. This special cajon actually belongs to my daughter who is 21 and had moved out of home. While she has yet to take her Woodskin with her it is only a matter of time so i decided to put together a digital version.
I bought two KT-10 kick triggers and a TM-1 drum module. This now allows me to play kick and snare, kick and cowbell, kick and closed-hats, kick and tambourine..... pretty much any samples i want. In some songs now I'll start with kick-and-hats and switch to kick-and-snare for the chorus.
Here's a quick (very dark) demo.
And here's a song we did a while back at rehearsal recorded live on the Soundcraft Ui24. This is me playing fretless, kick and snare with the rim-shot added in post.
For many years now I've been a one-man-rhythm-section playing bass while playing kick and snare pedals with my feet on a Woodskin Cajon. This special cajon actually belongs to my daughter who is 21 and had moved out of home. While she has yet to take her Woodskin with her it is only a matter of time so i decided to put together a digital version.
I bought two KT-10 kick triggers and a TM-1 drum module. This now allows me to play kick and snare, kick and cowbell, kick and closed-hats, kick and tambourine..... pretty much any samples i want. In some songs now I'll start with kick-and-hats and switch to kick-and-snare for the chorus.
Here's a quick (very dark) demo.
And here's a song we did a while back at rehearsal recorded live on the Soundcraft Ui24. This is me playing fretless, kick and snare with the rim-shot added in post.
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i tend to lift my heel and swivel on the ball of my foot to tap my heel back and forth, but if it's got pace i tend to just tap my foot.
I tend to shuffle forward and back, side to side. Not exactly dancing, but a bit of movement. Sometimes I wander over to the far side of the stage to see the keyboard player, usually to crack a joke about the guitarist. But when I'm standing I'm a heel tapper. But only the right one.
I've done both, and sometimes neither. I think it's somewhat a genre thing. Like if you are playing country or blues a toe tap works but if you are playing punk rock its not punk rock to tap your toe so lifting your heel or your whole foot and pounding it on the ground fits.
This becomes especially important when you're playing in a big ensemble. The sound of foots tapping can be deafening! Well seriously, when there's really quiet parts or pauses, you can hear the stomping, and it's distracting. Bonus if others have wonky timing but still tap their foot, it throws me off.
