How to Play the Hi Hat in a Drum Set

Last Updated: December 9, 2022

The hi-hats can play a variety of styles and should be taken advantage of by every drummer. Here is how to play them effectively and creatively as part of the drum set.

Steps

1
Make sure your hi-hats are appropriately positioned in the kit.
- You may want to review How to Set Up a Drum Kit to do this properly.
2
Close the hi-hats. Do this by either holding down the pedal with your left foot or locking the top cymbal down using the wing nut.^{[1]
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3
Play some drums, experimenting with your closed hi-hats. In many basic rock grooves, the hi-hats are usually struck on every quarter, eighth or sixteenth note. If you already have a feel for "closed" hi-hat use, learn how to start using the hi-hat pedal.^{[2]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 1:

Using the Pedal

1
The hi-hat pedal is used to create different sounds when striking the hi-hats, and to keep time for yourself and the band during a song.^{[3]
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2
Use the wing nut to adjust the cymbals about an inch apart. If your foot is on the pedal holding the cymbals together, lift it up so the cymbals are not touching each other.^{[4]
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3
Practice opening and closing the hi-hats with your left foot.^{[5]
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- One exercise is the "heel-toe" - starting with an open hi-hat and your toe pointed up, bring your toe down to close the hi-hat. Simultaneously, point your heel up. Then, switch again. After practicing this rhythmically for a minute or two, the muscles in your lower leg will start to burn. You will soon be able to do this for longer and longer, becoming more efficient in using the hi-hat pedal for long time periods.
4
Loosen the hi-hat. This is to further the two cymbals from each other that they make more of a "sizzling" sound when struck. Playing traditional rock grooves with a looser hi-hat gives more of a metal feel.
5
Run some simple snare rudiments, keeping time with the hi-hats. As timekeeping is a primary function of the hi-hats, you should practice "clicking" or "snapping" the hats together on beat. This is usually done on each of the quarter notes (1-2-3-4) or every other eighth note (the "ands" - 1-&-2-&-3-&-4-&.)
6
Start keeping beat with the hi-hats when playing various grooves. Since you're using the pedal, play the normal hi-hat part on the ride cymbal, floor tom, cowbell, or another part of the drum kit.
7
Choke, or "bark," the hi-hats. Hold the cymbals tight with the pedal, open the hats, quickly (almost simultaneously) strike the top cymbal, and immediately close the hats with the pedal again. This technique is often applied in hip hop, blues, and motown-like genres.

Community Q&A

Question

Is there another name for high hat?

Community Answer

Clangers.
Question

Can I use an open hi-hat without the pedal?

Jelke de Jong

Community Answer

Yes! You just have to tighten the hi-hat when it's open, which will lead to the hi-hat remaining open, and thus not using the pedal. This way, you can't use a closed hi-hat in the same song, though.