How to Play Hi-Hat Lifts on Any Beat

Among the many techniques available for the hi-hat drum (or cymbal set, as a purist may call it), the lift is a popular choice. A drummer "lifts" up the top of the hi-hat by releasing the foot pedal, and the hi-hat makes a wider sound. Closing the hi-hat cuts off the sound according to its rhythm. Here's how to do a hi-hat lift on a specific beat.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Get started. Set up a rhythm and know what your tempo is. A metronome helps keep time, but you can also do it by counting to yourself.

2. Keep your foot down on the hi-hat pedal while playing. If you hit the hi-hat, you'll hear a sharp, short knocking sound. That's what you want for regular hi-hat play. Including closed hi-hat notes sets the stage for a lift.

3. Before the beat that you want to do a lift on, release your left foot and let the hi-hat top float up away from the bottom. Let it rest there until the point where you want to create the lift.

4. Hit the hi-hat moderately, and your open high hat sound will ring out, a brassy, resounding cymbal sound to complement your beat. Do this on the specific beat where you want the lift.

5. Close the lift note by pushing your foot back down onto the pedal. You will determine the length of your open hi-hat or lift note by how long you keep your foot off of the pedal. For example, if you hit on the downbeat and close on the upbeat, your note length is half of what your regular beat length would be.

6. Practice with different note lengths such as quarter notes and eighth notes to hear different options for the lift technique.