5 most controversial hihat HACKS

[@gregwonhoff7161]

Loved your lesson. As soon as you were done I went down and loosened my hi-hat cymbals. Thank you so much. You are a great teacher and motivator.

[@Folk661]

Super hi cymbals actually can be a great way to get your skin mics more isolated from the cymbal bleed in a mix. Some great drum sounds and creative mixes have come from those type of set ups. Also can be exciting for the audience.

[@bencekapocs8369]

This video help me a lot undertanding about the Hi-hat, and not just like...maybe that the right position. So thank you

[@billbillards569]

I keep my hats low too for the reasons you mentioned and because when I had them high, I'd chew threw sticks like a Beaver. Now that sticks are $13+ a pair, it helps make them last longer as well.

[@jonashellborg8320]

Great video! I love the hi hat, it can do so much! I’ve got most of this right, lately i’ve been working on exactly that tip about stick angle and which part of the stick hits the hats. You can make sounds for quiet music, loud rock choruses etc, and the more I learn what my hi hats can do, the less cymbals I bring to the practise and gig.

[@balfit]

Definitely useful. I experimented for years and even then some of these came only far into these experiments. And it’s nicely summed up all in one place. Kudos

[@inmotiontrav]

Tried all of this and started playing my hats so much more fluidly. Thank you for sharing this knowledge!

[@DadBodDrumming]

Just bought my first real drum set. A Yamaha 5 piece in a honey amber color. Its amazing and this helped me a lot on adjusting the hihats. Now if I can get the drums tuned just right.

[@mikuspalmis]

I like that color. And Yamaha seems to make really good sounding drums.

[@parthmendpara7260]

Super helpful. Thank you!

[@menzerroku4708]

Thank you!!! I will keep this in mind on my extra pair of hi hats😀

[@sirfizz6518]

I'm a beginner and I've been lucky to recognize (maybe because of my prior experience sequencing samples in EDM production) very early on in my drumming that sharp dynamics on the hats are key to lively and expressive playing. I like how great hihat technique is a massive advantage with endless leverage, and yet it can, to a non-musician listener, come across as a subtle thing. Especially with good choices in terms of how they're mic'd, processed and mixed, it can be one of those things that creates sort of "auditory illusions" wherein a certain effect is created in a way that can only be pinpointed by the most highly trained ear. Working a lot on my hat technique from the jump has been one of the wisest decisions I've made so far, and I'm really glad to catch this video while still essentially a beginner wherein the building blocks of my playing aren't too firmly set and I can apply these tips to my fundamental approach. Thanks as always!

[@matthewmonroe7160]

Pretty new to your videos, but I’ve been doing all of this for years! My top hat is actually quite a bit looser than yours! The hi hat is my favorite instrument, it took me years to find the exact right pair! Good choice with the Ks!

[@danieldrouin314]

Thanks, Stephen for your expertise.

[@mat4410]

Good job Steve, I thought it was going to go in a different direction but you covered well the same challenges I have with students.

[@rbuonfiglio]

Great stuff, and your first two hacks confirmed exactly how I like to adjust my HiHats!

[@bananaemon2339]

I share a drum kit at my rehearsal place, and there's a drummer who only practice patterns and crank tight all the heads, killing all tones and resonance of the drum like it's some electric pads... Significantly damaging the set of heads in the process....It drives me so nuts !!!! Thank you Stephen, i really appreciate the positivity and encouragement of your channel ☝️✨

[@doyouknowmydad1]

I totally play with my hats high to avoid hitting my snare hand. So I lowered them because I tend to play open anyway when playing louder (choruses, etc). I also choke the living daylights out of the clutch. I got to church yesterday and found the clutch looser, so I tightened it like crazy. Gonna try a looser clutch. It’ll take a bit to get used to.

[@miker5233]

Thank you it's always a pleasure

[@robpearson108]

One other thing that you missed position of your hi hat stand, I used to have mine way to the left positioned it further north (11 O'Clock Position) and closer to my snare HUGE dividends!

[@miker5233]

It's better to have your high hat low so you could do roles and be more Dynamic with the hi-hat but you have to put the hi-hat further up in the snare for the back so you don't get tangled up

[@jadedillon5201]

I tend to adjust the HH depending on the song, sometimes ¼” open and sometimes 1 ¼”. I play open handed, so my HH is at the same level as my snare.

[@chinmeysway]

What does that mean open handed / same level as snare? Thanks

[@jadedillon5201]

@@chinmeysway Open handed means basically playing left handed on a right handed kit. I am right handed but play the high hat with my left hand. But I am ambidextrous in that I change leads and will also play timekeeping on the ride with my right hand. The essence of open handed is that you don’t cross your hands. When you play like that you can lower your high hat, because you aren’t crossing your hands, and my high hat is just a bit higher than my snare. There are a few professionals that play like that, though most play in a standard fashion with right hand on the high hat. For me it was simple, from the day I first picked up the sticks I just refused to cross one hand over the other. That being said, there are times (eg playing two handed 16ths on the high hat) when you do have to get one hand out of the way of the other and essentially cross.

[@dudemanaric]

Can you tell me about your snare drum, heads, and tuning? It's exactly the sound I want

[@riffdex]

I never even considered how my hi-hat was setup. Great info 😎

[@michikodrum3477]

Very helpful 👍

[@jaredp84]

I used to have my hi hats about 6 inches from the snare but then I seen a video about recording and he said to put all the cymbals higher for the mics to pick up the drums better and I’ve gotten used to playing like that

[@geoffcowan2384]

I like my ride cymbal really low. I have mine pretty much level with my snare. I rarely crash on it, and I don't often use a wash sound, so I don't need to hit the edge.

[@milesjohnson3324]

3:45 I like to use a dropper/quick release hihat clutch

[@milesjohnson3324]

Also thank you for the tips, I just discovered your channel and I’m really enjoying the practicality and usefulness of your content!

[@mikeskowron75]

I set my hihat opening so when I close my hats my pedal is at the same place as my kick pedal so one leg isn't sitting higher than the other. That to me is most important.

[@Bass-n-Boom]

Thanks! That Helped My Balance!!! totally new at this game after bein' a bassist for over 40 years.

[@TheMasterPoe]

so I started playing in around middle school and stopped around my sophomore year in high school. I want to get back into playing again but as I'm a bit older I feel like I'm starting from scratch and not sure where to start. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

[@raymellee4364]

Yay

[@eduardwalhout1740]

lesson starts at 1:32 no wait it starts at 1:55

[@johnnyt5514]

Really great Hi-Hat checklist so to speak. 👍 Bernard Purdie explains in this video, why the Hi-Hat sounds better when the screws aren't all the way tightened up: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKbYpHlnns6Ybpo Anyone else waiting till the end for a hint to overcome the space issue for the snare hand?

[@AdrianShawDrummer]

Yes. Me. When your hitting heavy backbeats on the snare, you need to raise the hi-hat stick almost vertical to clear the left stick coming down. This takes some practice (doesn’t everything?). Trying to move the sticks apart so they don’t clash just doesn’t work. I’m sure Stephen will cover this but he missed a trick in this video.

[@RISHABHshuklax]

Hi bro

[@joshuamcphee2498]

Secound

[@jacobwelsh2490]

I hate getting advise that I know I need 😟

[@ppauljefferson]

First

[@ALJessica]

What in ears do you use ? :)

[@nazzout]

I’ve had all these questions thank you so much for going through this. You’re a great teacher!