Gigging with Pedals - Do you have to stand?

[JackB1]

I have a solo acoustic act and have started adding pedals to my arsenol, but have run into a minor snag. I have to stand all the time to get to the pedals.
Most places where sitting is preferable have bar stools, which usually leave your feet a foot or so off the ground. Makes hitting the pedals impossible. Is standing all the time the only option? Sometimes I play 3 sets and it get tiring being on your feet all night. I've seen some guys put the pedals up on a milk crate or something like that. I guess that's an idea. I could also sit
on a normal height chair, but that kind of looks bad IMO. I like the height of the stools, but its a pain to reach the pedals.

How do all you pedal guys deal with this issue besides stand the whole time?

[Stratcat77]

I use this stool which works great for allowing me to still easily manipulate my pedals.

IMG_9535.jpg

[rockabilly69]

I used to sit down as I used to play a porchboard requiring both feet so I made a little table that I sat my pedals on and turned them on and off with my hand.
I have since long abandoned the porchboard so I stand now. Why does sitting on a regular height chair look weird? Many people do that. For a compromise, bring an adjustable drum throne to get you where your feet are at the perfect height for pedals.

[The Kid!]

I sit in a regular chair.

[varmonter]

I use a bar stool. Its my own and i bought it because
it fit me perfect. But im 6foot. I sit all the time. The trick is to get the board close enough so you can reach it. which is generally closer than you would think. The thing for me with the stool like the pic above with your foot on the rung the guitar cant slide down the leg. So its a matter of leg length and rung hight. Mines maple so its sturdy. it has a nice cusion. you have to audition stools.

[hotroad]

I use pedals and sit on a stool. The key for me was cutting off the legs of the stool so its height was perfect for my leg length reaching the pedals without straining to do so. It works great, just get a wooden legged stool to cut to length.

[Methos1979]

I always stand but not because I use pedals but rather that's just how we started playing/practicing/performing as our duo. Now it feels weird if I try to sit down. But I've seen a lot of performers that use pedals sitting.

[gfirob]

I have my pedals and mixer velcroed to a heavy-duty music stand which I keep to my right where I can reach them (though I play standing up). When I do sit down for whatever reason, I just adjust the stand lower, while keeping it off to my right where it does not obstruct the audience view.

[alnico5]

I sit in a regular chair. I have a kill switch and a Mel9. I can utilize them with no problems. I stand playing electric and sit playing acoustic.

[Captain Jim]

As I have... um... "matured" I developed a "hip issue" (medical terminology: I wore that thing out). We can make jokes about "If I had known I was going to live this long...", but I play sitting these days. I find it easier to use the Play Acoustic pedals sitting rather than standing.

A couple months ago, I bought this...



It's an On Stage DT8500 (guitar/keyboard throne); comfortable, height adjustable, with decent back support. And no issue with my feet dangling like they would be with a bar stool height.

I used to think that when performing out, I had to be standing. Well, back in my 20s, I played in a duo with a keyboard player and we both sat... I'm just going back to my youth.

[Goat Mick]

I always kinda half perch on my stool with one foot on the floor. I don't use pedals often but it does let me reach them when I do.

[Nick84]

Using one of the bar stools works for me on the rare ocassion I play seated. Just need your pedal(s) in the right spot.

[JackB1]

Who makes it?

Originally Posted by Stratcat77

I use this stool which works great for allowing me to still easily manipulate my pedals.

Attachment 21868

[Stratcat77]

Originally Posted by JackB1

Who makes it?

Same as mentioned above by Captain Jim.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-with-backrest

[JackB1]

Thanks! Is it comfortable for hours? Wish they made that little footrest bar adjustable. Then it would be perfect. The nice thing about this stool is you can make it the right height so that your food just reaches the floor, giving you a little height, but not too high.

Originally Posted by Stratcat77

Same as mentioned above by Captain Jim.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-with-backrest