Canâ€™t play in cowboy boots

Mack Quinney · From: Texas, USA

Ok, Iâ€™ve tried, but it ainâ€™t working. I play in a country band but for the life of me I canâ€™t play pedal steel in cowboy boots. I can wear the hat, but not the boots! Ha ha.

Iâ€™ve tried pointy toed, round toed and now square toed boots, but the soles at the toes get caught under the couplings at the pedal connections.

Thoughts? I feel silly wearing a cowboy hat and tennis shoes!

Mack
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76 Emmons Push Pull, Williams 600, ShoBud Pro I, MSA Classic, Remington SteelMaster dbl 8, MSA Super Slide dbl 8, Gold Tone 6, And other instruments and equipment I can't afford.

Michael Sawyer · From: North Carolina, USA

Same here.
I play old Fenders,and cant "feel" the pedals enough to suit me.
I keep a pair of Sperry's in my bag.
On the 5 -7 songs I'm not behind the steel,the boots are on.

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

meh, play in your socks.. I did it for 40+ years onstage.. No one cares.. Unless you have a hole in your sock and your toe peeks out.

Then the entire band falls on the floor laughing, and the girls point at you and giggle... It happened to me.... bob
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I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!

no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......

Don R Brown · From: Rochester, New York, USA

I had the identical problem. Boots kept conflicting with the pedals or rods. I wore moccasins and had no problem, plus I think it helped me "feel" the pedals better.

BUT - when I started playing out at a few jams etc, I really felt out of place with moccasins and started forcing myself to practice at home in boots. Result is I now feel much more at home in boots than any other footwear. Boots now feel very "normal". I'm not sure HOW I solved the pedal problem but it seems to be under control.

If you are playing out, IMHO stay with what is a known quality. But if you WANT to wear boots, I'd suggest staying with them when you're at home or some place where a few clams don't hurt. You might find it comes around to you.
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Many play better than I do. Nobody has more fun.

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

When I was young I forced myself to wear cowboy boots. It seemed to be expected. Now that I'm older I wear race car shoes because I can play much better with them. I'm sure some of the groups I play with wish i would go back to boots, but I've let them know that's not going to happen. I haven't been fired yet.
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It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.

Don R Brown · From: Rochester, New York, USA

That's fine, Paul, but I would not suggest pushing your luck with a firesuit and helmet! Mr. Green

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Many play better than I do. Nobody has more fun.

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

I played a few joints where the firesuit and helmet might have been a good option.

Terry Winter · From: Saskatchewan, Canada

I struggled greatly some 40 plus years ago when starting to play and one day just made up my mind to play width either cowboy boots (rounded toe) or regular shoes. Mind over matter for me and it seemed to work.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I've never given it a thought. I just play with whatever shoes I have on, although in bands its round toe boots.

I used to live in Kansas City, Mo and boots were common wear even for work in the area. I was a manager and wore a coat and tie but also wore boots. Thus that probably helped wearing boots for steel.

The best advice I got one time was "play the guitar, don't let it play you".

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

Skate Board Shops usually have cool looking stage shoes, and they are all about being able to feel the board (pedals in our case).
Vans are popular.
One local player styles the pedals with Converse high tops.

Roy Carroll · From: North of a Round Rock

I have always played in boots. I use round toe with a riding heel. Roper style boots seem to be harder. Here in Texas, you might get lynched if you don't have on boots or something that looks like boots! It never seemed to hurt Mr.Emmons and Mr.Day. It really is just a matter of getting used to them. Stay with it, it will come to you.
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Just north of the Weird place, south of Georgetown

Bobby Hearn · From: Henrietta, Tx

I used to play in boots but the older I get, the more I appreciate practicality and dress shoes are way more practical to me than boots while playing. I still play the same bad notes but I do it more comfortably.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

You maybe need a pair of "shoots", they're tennis shoes with a boot top.
I saw a pair of them in Austin, Texas that they'd made up for Willy Nelson. Very Happy

Erv

John De Maille · From: On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.

My mode of footwear when I play out is cowboy boots. Regular cowboy boots, pointed toe and high, canted heel. I've always played in them,so, I don't ha e a problem at all. However, around the house or at a very casual gig, I'll wear anything that's comfortable and gets the job done. I once did a recording job playing in my Timberland work boots. I had forgotten to take something else to wear and was stuck with those boots. They worked OK and I got the job done.
So, what I'm saying is just play in what's comfortable to you. Don't try to impress or hinder yourself to get in with the in crowd. Don't add another obstacle to a challenging instrument.

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

Howbout a high-top Minnetonka? It will at least faintly resemble a boot, have plenty of flexibility, and wonâ€™t look dorky with your boot-cut Wranglers, and the sole doesnâ€™t extend past your toe like some cowboy boots do. You can always cut off the fringe if it gathers up your cuffs.

Full disclosure- I play in my Tecova round-toes, with a 1.25â€ riding heel, though I experiment with non-cowboy footwear in the privacy of my own practice room.

Travis Wilson · From: Johnson City, TX

I was told I had to play in cowboy boots. At first it was hard, but after a few weeks I couldnâ€™t really tell I was wearing them. I think my boots also had to stretch out because it was hard to roll my ankle at first but now it seems normal.

Bill C. Buntin · Posted 18 Dec 2019 1:34 pm

Mack

I got a pair of luechese boots that have leather soled and eel skin. Before that I had fairly good luck with original Justin ropers.

Practice with boots till you get used to it. Now thatâ€™s all I play in.

Currently using ariat

Tried organ masters. But talk about dorky looking...

Now even on rare occasion that I might play organ, I still use the boots.

Bill

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I like my genuine woose footwear:

Bill C. Buntin · Posted 18 Dec 2019 1:41 pm

Erv Iâ€™ve seen a few church organist using those genuine moccasins. Never tried them. But looks comfortable

Bill

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Bill,
VERY comfortable. Very Happy

Erv

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

I've always hated playing in cowboy boots, but the Ariat Ropers that have a rubber sole, a lot of practice, and a little self-forgiveness is what I wear for Josh's show.

It's crazy what is most important!

Good luck!

David Spires
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2021 MSA Legend XL 10&7; Asher Electro-Hawaiian Junior Lap Steel; '79 OMI Dobro 66 w/ Scheerhorn cone and setup; '64 Hand-wired Re-issue Fender Princeton Reverb

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

99% of my work is playing musicals that require me to don an 'appropriate' costume. As often as not the costume designer decides that western boots are suitable.

I can't play with my heel too high and/or with those unsightly pointed toes. I always show up with my own black dress shoes in which I know I'm comfortable and any arguments are swiftly over. They're usually only too pleased to find a steel player who's prepared to commit to the job so I get my way.

My preference, though, is for playing in socks.
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10, JCH D10, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Kevin Fix · From: Michigan, USA

I have been playing in socks for almost 40 years now.

Jim Cooley · From: The 'Ville, Texas, USA

I dress western all the way down to my ankles when I play. Western boots have never worked for me either. I'm with the play-in-what's-comfortable crowd. I go to the Texas Jamboree (Dallas Show) every year. It's entirely possible I've missed one or two, but I don't recall having seen any of the featured players in the main ballroom or those in the side rooms wearing western boots while they played. I have seen a couple of players who carried an extra pair of shoes and changed into them when they played.

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