Things You'll Need:
- High hat
- Drumsticks
- Drum stool
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Step 1
A high hat consists of two crash cymbals that are mounted on a stand. The bottom cymbal remains fixed, while the top cymbal is attached to a tube by a clutch and can be moved up and down with a foot pedal.
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Step 2
Sit down on your drum stool, placing your high-hat foot on the pedal. Your foot should rest comfortably on the pedal, with your knee bent at approximately a 90-degree angle.
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Step 3
Raise the cymbals on the high-hat stand so that they are at approximately chest level.
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Step 4
Step on the high-hat pedal. This closes the cymbals. Raise your foot off the pedal. This opens the cymbals.
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Step 5
With your foot completely off the pedal, strike the top cymbal once with a drumstick. This technique is similar to striking a crash cymbal, creating a loud tone.
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Step 6
Raise your foot partially so that the cymbals are parted slightly. Now try playing a 4-beat rock pattern, striking the high-hat cymbals with your drumstick on all four beats, with emphasis on the first and third beats. This technique pulls more volume and sustain out of the high hat than if the cymbals were completely closed.
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Step 7
Step down on the pedal. Strike the top cymbal with your drum stick and raise your foot off the pedal at the same time. Then close the cymbals again. This technique can be repeated throughout any rhythm pattern and is often used in a drum fill into a new measure.
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Step 8
Raise your foot off the pedal. Step down on the pedal and then quickly lift your foot off the pedal again, striking the cymbals together. This is another type of open-hat crash tone created strictly with your foot.
