The Steel Guitar Forum

I find myself tapping my foot a lot when playing acoustic lap slide, and I think that something (i.e. a foot ) keeping a basic beat complements lap slide very well. How could I make my foot tapping more audible in a live setting (like Xavier Rudd does, for instance). Without going as far as a kick drum and pedal, what alternatives may there be?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated!

Many thanks,

Fred

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www.myspace.com/fredkinbom

www.frockmusic.com
www.myspace.com/ilikerecords

Keep your feet to yourself. As the pun would go.

I believe the foot tapping is a distraction for those who would be listeners. At least I find it so. I heard a performer not long ago tapping his feet to the beat and he was unconscious to how loud and distracting it was. I believe that it was a little bit of nervousness coming out so there was understanding.

Some say that tapping your feet can sometimes end up interfering with keeping good time, especially when playing with others.

This is my $.02 worth.

Aloha,
Don

Fred,
unless you need to work completely acoustic/unplugged, there is a device that would be perfect for you - a kind of mat or pad that lays on the floor, which has a built in piezo pickup to amplify the tapping of the foor; unfortunately, while I clearly remember seeing that device in some online music store, I can't remember the maker or name, but maybe with a bit of googling you can find out...

Another alternative; a bass-drum pedal, with an kick-pad mounted to it instead of a drum; the signal from the pad can trigger a sound from an electronic sound module (there are special ones for drum sounds).

For unplugged gigs, just wear Dutch wooden shoes and play on top of a hollow box

Take a listen to Chris Smither sometime. He employees foot tapping as a fine art to accompany his guitar playing and it works very well. He uses a piece of plywood that has a pickup attached to it.

There is another device called something like the Front Porch bass or something like that which is designed for the very same purpose.

Thanks very much! Now I know what to look for (or try to build myself).<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Fred Kinbom on 29 August 2006 at 04:14 AM.]</p></FONT>

The stomp box is one option. Andy Ellis makes some fine looking resonator guitars, and a little box for amplifying your foot tapping.
A cheaper alternative is to take a drawer from a chest of drawers out and put it upside down, then put a microphone underneath it.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Put your foot on a tambourine.
Cheers
Dave

It's not uncommon to see a "foot pounder" completely out of step with his playing.

Sorta like some gum chewers/drummers..........that chew off beat.

And ahhhhh.....the sixty piece symphony orchestra with sixty individual foot stompers each stomping to his/her own tempo.

I used to use a board with 1" raises on both sides with a large Shure piezo attached to it for stomping to blues tunes. Being off the beat actually works in those situations, as long as it's not constant. Listen to some Junior Kimbrough for a good idea of what it should sound like.

"http://www.porchboard.com/html/models_o ... _info.html"

Here is another one.

Despite what some other posters say, amplifying your foot stomp with your playing can be an extremely effective technique. Again I point to Chris Smither who comes up with a different foot pattern for each song and it is hardly "distracting".

I've never understood the need for some posters on this forum to chime in their "opinions" which have nothing to do with what the poster is looking for:

It would be like responding to someone looking for tabs to "Hey Goodlooking" by saying they shouldn't play country, or they shouldn't use tabs, or that you just hate the song Hey Goodlooking. What purpose it serves is beyond me. Quite honestly, no one gives a blank whether you like foot stomping or not. I love footstomping, but that is immaterial as well. they only post that matters is the one that helps the poster get the answer he is seeking.

and that is MY 2 cents.

Here is a nice example of foot tapping
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GROpZSlh5ww

While an individual poster may be looking for direct answer to a question, I believe it serves the poster well to have different perspectives that he/she may not have thought about beforehand in order to help him/her make an informed decision. At least it doesn't hurt. IMHO

Aloha,:
Don

Dieter,

Gives a whole new meaning to the word "indigenous."

RZ

"http://www.smither.com/misc.html"

Chris Smither uses a condensor PZM on his foot pad.

Fred-- this can be a cool idea. People like Chris Smither really do enhance their recordings and live performances this way. On the other hand, I've noticed some solo performers who keep perfect time vocally & instrumentally, but whose (unmiked) tapping feet are not quite in rhythm with the song. In case you haven't done so, you might try recording that foot-tapping to a variety of songs/rhythms to make sure your time is what it needs to be. You know, before you foot the bill for accessories.--Steve

i think the device is the "porchboard" there is a guy that sells these at all the guitar shows. you can hear that thing all day.

Scott H. Biram also uses one of these in his one-man band.

I personally like the dresser drawer. has that good old down homeness about it.

Tap on, son, and don't let nobody tell you any different. There's a certain liberation to not knowing what you can't do. Go for it.

Hi Fred,
I have to agree with Terry.
There is a Norwegian guitarist who made a whole CD dedicated to the use of foot tapping and stomping. It's even called "Tramp", which is Norwegian for stomp. The guitarist's name is Knut Reiersrud, if you should try to find the album.

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Gold Tone Solid Spruce Weissenborn (D), National Dynamic (A6), SRV Strat, Koch Twintone II, Ayers Acoustic.

John Lee Hooker also used "foot tapping" to his advantage and came up with some timeless classics in the process.

Harry Manx uses an amplified foot pad live on almost every tune. He's touring a lot, so go to his web site and see him live if you can. www.harrymanx.com

Thanks very much everyone for the tips and recommendations! Much appreciated!

Fred

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www.myspace.com/fredkinbom

www.frockmusic.com
www.myspace.com/ilikerecords

A local player here in Boise uses a kick drum pedal directly hitting a shure SM57. No drum needed. I sounds pretty good.

Mark

Hi Fred,
Here's the stomp box Harry Manx uses. Just found it! http://www.ellisguitars.com/
oops, I just noticed Brad beat me to it!
Scroll down a bit and it's there.
I've heard this in person. Harry's foot actually stomps in time!<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Loni Specter on 30 August 2006 at 09:42 AM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Loni Specter on 30 August 2006 at 09:43 AM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Loni Specter on 30 August 2006 at 09:52 AM.]</p></FONT>

It never occured to me to use foot tapping for anything but keeping time. I usually play unaccompanied now I think I'll experiment with this concept JFTHI.

I always tap my foot on a cut of plywood. It just sounds good and helps me keep time.