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Learning Drums Lesson - Hi-Hat Techniques Video Lecture - Learn how
Text Transcript from Video
this lesson is all about opening and
closing the hi-hat cymbals and how we
use the variety of sounds available from
the manipulation and pressure applied by
the hi-hat foot on the pedal we can use
the hi-hat to create sounds by just
using our foot to bring the cymbals
together or we can combine this action
while we play the cymbals with a stick
to get some interesting sounds let's
start by just playing the hi-hat s--
open and closed by using just the foot
often this is referred to as pedal
hi-hat
set your hi-hat clutch and top hi-hat
symbol so that there's a gap of about
one to two centimeters when open and
using your foot on the foot plate
release then close the hi-hat in a short
snapping type motion the sound that is
produced should be like a shaker type
sound it's worth noting now also that if
we snap the hi-hats together and then
release them so they part again quickly
we can also achieve a splashing type
sound for now we'll concentrate on the
short shaker type sound you'll notice
that the notation for hi-hat played with
the foot is a cross at the bottom of the
stave and therefore close to where the
bass drum notation goes practice this
next exercise many times to start to
build some stamina in your non lead foot
and if you want to practice playing both
heel down and heal up techniques go
right ahead
exercise 1 1
two three four once you're confident
with the basic motion of the pedal
hi-hat let's try a hand foot
coordination exercise exercise two one
two three four one of the most widely
used aspects of pedal hi-hat is when
playing ride cymbal so it's a good idea
to start playing some right and hi-hat
ostinatos to get used to the lead hand
non lead foot interaction exercise three
one two three four
you
exercise four one two three four
as well as getting used to playing both
hands in connection with the pedal
hi-hat it's good practice to get your
feet synchronized so here's a few feet
only coordination exercises to help you
develop your hi-hat control exercise
five one two three four exercise six one
two three four now we can try playing a
few pedal hi-hat exercises whilst
playing a ride cymbal groove if you get
stuck or have trouble with these next
exercises try playing feet only many
times until your bass drum and hi-hat
are on autopilot exercise seven one two
three four
exercise eight one two three four
once we've got some level of control
over the high cut pedal in conjunction
with the other limbs it's time to try
and play some open and closed hi-hats by
playing the hi-hats with a stick in
general the idea is to open the hi-hats
enough to make a sizzling sound when
struck rather than opening the hi-hats
until they completely part here is an
exercise using open and closed hi-hat
played with a stick you'll notice that
the sign for open hi-hat is a circle and
the sign for closed hi-hat is a plus
after a closed sign it's assumed you'll
play closed hi-hat until you see another
open sign this first exercise opens on
the and of the beat and closes with the
snare on the back beats exercise nine
one two three four
this next exercise opens on the and of
the beat and closes on the numbers 1 & 3
which means the bass drum will be played
as the hi-hat closes so it's both feet
down together on this exercise exercise
10 1 2 3 4 this next exercise is also
feet down together it's four on the
floor meaning for bass drum beats in
every bar and the hi-hat is opening on
the and of every number giving us a
disco or house influence pattern often
refer to as offbeat open hi-hat exercise
11 one two three four
finally here's a sneaky one which has a
more rock sound to it all the open high
hats are happening on the beat and all
the closed high hats are therefore
happening on the and of every beat this
means your feet will be alternating with
four on the floor happening on the bass
drum and off beats on the hi-hat foot
exercise twelve one two three four
opening and closing the hi-hat gives us
a great many effects with which to add
texture and mood to our music from tight
funky short open and closed sort of
grooves to loud washy loose rock grooves
the classic open and closed sound of the
jazz hi-hat pattern involves open and
closed stick sounds and the involvement
of the pedal hi-hat when playing the
right cymbal or even when filling or
soloing provides us with a nice chick or
splash sound to play over experiment
with hi-hat sounds and listen out for
the way your favorite drummers use the
hi-hat to alter they sound and feel good
luck and bye for now
closing the hi-hat cymbals and how we
use the variety of sounds available from
the manipulation and pressure applied by
the hi-hat foot on the pedal we can use
the hi-hat to create sounds by just
using our foot to bring the cymbals
together or we can combine this action
while we play the cymbals with a stick
to get some interesting sounds let's
start by just playing the hi-hat s--
open and closed by using just the foot
often this is referred to as pedal
hi-hat
set your hi-hat clutch and top hi-hat
symbol so that there's a gap of about
one to two centimeters when open and
using your foot on the foot plate
release then close the hi-hat in a short
snapping type motion the sound that is
produced should be like a shaker type
sound it's worth noting now also that if
we snap the hi-hats together and then
release them so they part again quickly
we can also achieve a splashing type
sound for now we'll concentrate on the
short shaker type sound you'll notice
that the notation for hi-hat played with
the foot is a cross at the bottom of the
stave and therefore close to where the
bass drum notation goes practice this
next exercise many times to start to
build some stamina in your non lead foot
and if you want to practice playing both
heel down and heal up techniques go
right ahead
exercise 1 1
two three four once you're confident
with the basic motion of the pedal
hi-hat let's try a hand foot
coordination exercise exercise two one
two three four one of the most widely
used aspects of pedal hi-hat is when
playing ride cymbal so it's a good idea
to start playing some right and hi-hat
ostinatos to get used to the lead hand
non lead foot interaction exercise three
one two three four
you
exercise four one two three four
as well as getting used to playing both
hands in connection with the pedal
hi-hat it's good practice to get your
feet synchronized so here's a few feet
only coordination exercises to help you
develop your hi-hat control exercise
five one two three four exercise six one
two three four now we can try playing a
few pedal hi-hat exercises whilst
playing a ride cymbal groove if you get
stuck or have trouble with these next
exercises try playing feet only many
times until your bass drum and hi-hat
are on autopilot exercise seven one two
three four
exercise eight one two three four
once we've got some level of control
over the high cut pedal in conjunction
with the other limbs it's time to try
and play some open and closed hi-hats by
playing the hi-hats with a stick in
general the idea is to open the hi-hats
enough to make a sizzling sound when
struck rather than opening the hi-hats
until they completely part here is an
exercise using open and closed hi-hat
played with a stick you'll notice that
the sign for open hi-hat is a circle and
the sign for closed hi-hat is a plus
after a closed sign it's assumed you'll
play closed hi-hat until you see another
open sign this first exercise opens on
the and of the beat and closes with the
snare on the back beats exercise nine
one two three four
this next exercise opens on the and of
the beat and closes on the numbers 1 & 3
which means the bass drum will be played
as the hi-hat closes so it's both feet
down together on this exercise exercise
10 1 2 3 4 this next exercise is also
feet down together it's four on the
floor meaning for bass drum beats in
every bar and the hi-hat is opening on
the and of every number giving us a
disco or house influence pattern often
refer to as offbeat open hi-hat exercise
11 one two three four
finally here's a sneaky one which has a
more rock sound to it all the open high
hats are happening on the beat and all
the closed high hats are therefore
happening on the and of every beat this
means your feet will be alternating with
four on the floor happening on the bass
drum and off beats on the hi-hat foot
exercise twelve one two three four
opening and closing the hi-hat gives us
a great many effects with which to add
texture and mood to our music from tight
funky short open and closed sort of
grooves to loud washy loose rock grooves
the classic open and closed sound of the
jazz hi-hat pattern involves open and
closed stick sounds and the involvement
of the pedal hi-hat when playing the
right cymbal or even when filling or
soloing provides us with a nice chick or
splash sound to play over experiment
with hi-hat sounds and listen out for
the way your favorite drummers use the
hi-hat to alter they sound and feel good
luck and bye for now
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Apr 21, 2026 Last updated
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