How to Do Quad High Hat Lift Drum Exercises

One of the most dynamic pieces of the drum set is the high hat (cymbals). The high hat offers a range of melodic sounds and can be played with a variety of sticks and brushes depending on the effect you want in your music.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Know the basics of high hat playing and the sounds you can make with it. The high hat is played using the foot pedal and can be accentuated with sticks and brushes. The foot pedal is generally played with your right foot. When you step on it, the two cymbals making up the high hat lift apart. When you release your foot, they come together, which produces the sound.

2. Understand the basic concept of the quad exercise for the high hat. This is in addition the single, double and triple high hat lifts. The quad will be done with the same precision and timing, only adding a fourth component.

3. Expand your skills to include the quad high hat exercise. You need to be able to hear it correctly and feel it instinctively in your feet. First, start with a single count, 1, 2, 3...for stepping on the pedal. Increase the speed, stepping on the pedal twice for each count.

4. Play the quad high hat exercise by increasing the beats. You should be playing the pedal for every quarter note. This will equal about 80 beats per minute (bpm).

Tips & Warnings

• Play around a little and get to know the high hat, drum sticks and brushes. A variety of sticks and brushes are available at any musical instrument store, and will help you add dimension to your drum playing by creating new sounds with these implements.