Tip of The Week Cymbal Series - Playing the Hi-Hats
Channel: Lone Star School of Music
Date: 04/05/2018

Hi-Hats are incredibly versatile cymbals that make up the fundamental core of the cymbal sound for most music.  They can be played with both the stick and the foot to create a variety of sounds.  

There are 3 primary sounds achieved with the stick
1) Closed Hat
The closed hat is a very tight, rhythmic sound that cuts through the band and is great for keeping things moving while not taking up too much sonic space

2) Open Hat
Open hats are clamorous and loud and are generally used when heightened energy is needed or as transitions to other cymbals

3) Everything in between 
Depending on how tightly or loosely you keep tension on the hats with your foot, there are a whole rang of sounds in between a razor tight sound and a completely open sound.  You can also vary that sound by using different parts of the stick (tip vs. shoulder) or by playing different areas of the cymbal.  Closer to the bell is tighter and shorter, closer to the edge is chunkier and more harmonically rich

There are 2 primary sounds achieved with the foot
1) Foot close
Closing the hats with your foot is a great way to provide a rhythmic pulse under the rest of what you're playing.  Commonly heard in jazz and world music

2) Splash
The splash is a great way to create an accent on the hats without needing to use your hands


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