How to Play a High Hat with a French Grip

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By Jeff Taylor
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (2 Ratings)

Play a High Hat with a French Grip

The French Grip is similar to the matched grip. When playing with the french grip both hands hold the drumsticks in a matched, overhand manner. This allows for smoother playing. The hi-hat is a pair of cymbals on a drum kit that consists of two cymbals connected and attached to a stand, one on top of the other. The cymbals can be purchased together or apart. They can be used apart with the help of a pedal at the bottom of the stand. The hi-hat is an integral part of most drum sets and when played properly can add an essential sound to your playing. Read more to learn how to play a high hat with a french dip.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Hi-hat
Drumsticks, brushes or rods

How to Play a Hi-Hat with a French Grip

Step 1

Select either drumsticks, rods or brushes to play the hi-hat. You will base your decision on the sound you want to accomplish. For a more diffused sound, choose brushes. For a more clear sound, choose drumsticks. Lastly, for a stronger, more bold sound, select rods.
Step 2

Hold your drumsticks (or brushes or rods) using the matched grip. Hold both sticks the same way, with your index and middle fingers curled around the bottom of the stick. Place your thumb over top.
Step 3

Decide if you wish to play the hi-hat closed (the top cymbal resting on the bottom one), or open (a separation between the two cymbals), or a combination of both.
Step 4

Experiment playing the French Grip on both a closed and opened hi-hat. Try out different patterns and styles of playing. Also try using drumsticks, brushes and rods, to test the many ways to play a hi-hat using this style of matched grip.

Tips & Warnings

For louder strokes, use your wrist, rotating it much in the same way you would to swing a hammer.
If you wish to play with the hi-hat closed, you can either loosen the screw and allow the cymbals to rest upon one another, or you can play with the pedal pressed down all the way to the floor. If you wish to play with the cymbals open, tighten the screw as you press the pedal to the floor. Then as you lift up on the pedal, the top cymbal will lift with it. You can play with it open or closed by raising and lowering the pedal.

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