How to Play a High Hat

Whether it's country-western, R&B, jazz, or good old rock 'n roll, most contemporary music relies on a solid drummer. And a solid drummer often can't do without the high hat, a key component of the rhythm section. There are many ways to play the high hat. The following steps offer a simple introduction that will get you started playing it right away.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• High hat
• Drum sticks
• Drum stool

Playing the High Hat

1. A traditional high hat is comprised of two crash cymbals that are mounted together on a stand, with a metal tube running through the middle of each cymbal. The top cymbal is attached to the tube by a clutch and is movable, while the bottom cymbal does not move. A foot-operated pedal can open and close the cymbals. A right-handed drummer will typically play the high hat pedal with his or her left foot and the cymbals with the right hand (although the cymbals can also be played alternatingly with both drum sticks).

2. 
   High hat stand without cymbals

   Sit down on your drum stool so that your pedal leg rests comfortably on the high-hat pedal, with the leg bent at a 90-degree angle. Adjust the high-hat stand up or down so that you can strike the cymbals with your drum sticks comfortably (typically the cymbals should be level with your chest).

3. 
   High hat cymbal

   Step down on the high-hat pedal. This closes the cymbals. Lift your foot off the pedal, opening the cymbals.

4. Step down on the pedal and, with a drum stick, hit the top cymbal with a simple four-beat pattern (four beats per measure). You are playing a simple closed-hat pattern. This produces short tones from the cymbals.

5. Step off the pedal and strike the top cymbal with your drum stick, once again using a simple four-beat pattern. Now you are playing an open-hat pattern. The tones are much louder, since the cymbals are separated and not muting each other.

6. Lifting your foot off the pedal, step down quickly and then release your foot, clashing the cymbals together. This is a crash technique that can be played with your foot.

7. Try a simple four-beat rock pattern on a closed high hat. Step down on the pedal and strike the cymbals with your drum stick on the first and third beats of a four-beat pattern. You can vary the sound of the high hat by gently lifting your foot off the pedal, adding more volume as you separate the cymbals.

8. Try a simple four-beat jazz pattern. Step down on the high hat pedal on the second and fourth beat of each measure. This technique is often heard in big band and swing music.

9. Try a simple disco pattern. With the pedal down and cymbals closed, strike the cymbals with your drum stick while lifting your foot off the pedal at the same time. Then step back down on the pedal in rhythm. Repeat this on the back half of each beat, playing a four-beat pattern.

10. Try a simple high-hat fill. Play a closed-hat four-beat pattern. On the fourth beat of the measure, lift your foot off the pedal while striking the cymbals at the same time. Then step back down on the pedal on the first beat of the next measure. This technique is used in many different types of music and adds color and momentum to the drumming.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many time signatures--4/4 time, waltz time, 6/8 time, 5/4 time and so on--which means you can play a variety of rhythms on the high hat. The same simple techniques apply to all, however, including open and closed patterns and fills.