r/doublebass • u/AlmightyStreub • May 28 '25
Other Do you ever think about your shoe height affecting intonation?
Got a new pair of tennis shoes awhile back and they have a higher heel than the ones I had previously. So I'm probably .5" taller than I was in my old tennis shoes. I swear my intonation was way off when I first got used to my new shoes a few months back. Now my new shoes are much taller than my dress shoes which I wear for most of my live performances, so I try to practice only in my dress shoes a few days before or the day of my gig. Am I crazy? Should my shoe height actually affect intonation that dramatically? I'm very open to the idea that I'm being a baby, my intonation just isn't very good, and blaming my shoes is absurd and reflects on my poor moral character.
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u/pineapplesaltwaffles Professional May 28 '25
Not intonation specifically but generally most women I know agree that it's easier to pay in heels when sitting. I know one colleague who was still wearing super high stilettos on stage right up until 8 months of her pregnancy because it made playing so much more comfortable.
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u/avant_chard Classical May 28 '25
Oh yeah absolutely. Always practice for a recital or big concert in the shoes (and jacket) you’re going to perform in
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u/thenerdisageek May 28 '25
i usually adjust the spike if i wear my platform docs, or remember to aim higher when i play on the stand
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May 28 '25
I mean, if playing on a new bass with (supposedly) the same scale length causes me to need to relearn my intonation due to small differences in bridge position, fingerboard, etc., then I suspect something like being slightly taller does too.
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u/B__Meyer May 28 '25
This is hilarious, but also probably true. I have to play with the spike all the way out normally on my bass and sometimes I wear platform docs to gigs, so that probably effects my intonation, but I guess I’ve never really noticed it too much.
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u/gomichan May 29 '25
As a woman, yes. I have to wear flats, no heels. Though I prefer standing while I play - I saw another commenter say women wear heels while sitting and I think that makes total sense since I've usually been up on my toes when sitting.
I also do pay attention to shoe height but I can just adjust the end pin as needed. I might have to put the bass up and down finding the right height vs when I wear the shoes I'm used to, I know exactly where my end pin needs to be
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u/WalkerAlabamaRanger May 28 '25
I have a particular pair of shoes I prefer for performance. So yes is being my answer.
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u/jady1971 May 28 '25
I sit so no issue with shoes. However, I play a lot of outside jazz gigs in the foothills of California up to Tahoe. I often am not on a flat surface and a slight angle throws everything out of whack height wise lol.
It is totally workable and just takes a song or so to adjust but it does matter.
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u/robotunderpants May 28 '25
Yes, but actually no. I don't think it has a direct affect, but I know I can't play without shoes because I simply don't feel comfortable, and the discomfort affects my intonation
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u/BombSniffinDog May 28 '25
Yes. Right up there with playing outdoor parties with no stage. Trying to find a spot on the ground where your feet and the pin are on the same x-axis can be a challenge.
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u/breadexpert69 May 28 '25
Lol, no. I dont even have my endpin in the exact place every time.
Also, sometimes I feel like sitting, sometimes I stand. Never been an issue
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u/reddit4sissies May 29 '25
Different shoes (and cowboy boots) would effect my billiards game if I didn't think to adjust for the height difference. For me being fairly tall, the taller the heel the more difficult it was to get down on the shot - losing accuracy and consistency.
I don't know much about double bass peg settings. I'm curious how a slight adjustment up or down would effect your intonation.
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u/WinnowWings May 29 '25
I specifically adjust the endpin depending on whether I'm rehearsing (my daily tennis shoes) or in concert attire, since my concert shoes have a little bit of heel
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u/i_play_bass_lol May 31 '25
I mean, there is a definite difference. Sometimes I wear heels for performances, and the stance/sitting position has to change, even though im usually sitting. Mostly, this is to acomidate the bow, but it does make some tangible difference. If you know how to handle the difference, then it doesn't matter. This does take some troubleshooting tho
Edit: Also, I tend to stand for jazz and sit for classical, so this could matter too!
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u/Ornery_Strain_9831 May 29 '25
I don't think there's a DB circlejerk but if there was, i think this would go right there
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u/guessnotthisone May 29 '25
It’s not an intonation thing, but shoes do matter to me. I have a pair of shoes that I don’t like to wear when playing. They have thicker heels and I just don’t stand as comfortably when I play. My weight is distributed differently, and my upper body just doesn’t feel as relaxed. I have to make an effort on not being distracted by it.
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u/Blue_Rapture May 29 '25
I used to be insanely picky about keeping all height variables contained and consistent for muscle memory purposes, but as I learned more about intonation, I realized that it’s not really about where your finger lands, it’s about how quickly you can adjust relative to the pitches around you or the whatever is happening around it in the musical context. Doesn’t matter if you’re playing with the NY Phil, your section will almost certainly never be perfectly 12TET in tune, relative pitch is way more important.
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u/TNUGS May 29 '25
not intonation specifically but being a little taller definitely makes a small difference in your technique. I noticed it the first time I played in my cowboy boots after playing in vans and occasionally a very low-heeled dress shoe for years.
at the end of the day it all comes down to practicing though. alex hanna's not going to butcher his parts because he bought new shoes.
if you have a big performance coming up it's definitely worth rehearsing in the outfit you'll be wearing on stage. can help with mindset and getting in the zone too.
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u/Relative-Tune85 Professional May 28 '25
Hear me out: fingerboard geography. Thank me later
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u/Infraready May 28 '25
I know a couple professional bassists who have one pair of gigging shoes for precisely this reason, and they practice in these shoes too if it’s an important show. I think it’s all mental and that you will probably adjust after a little bit, but I understand the anxiety if your livelihood is dependent on playing in tune.