Nail the Hihat 16ths in “AFRICA” in 3 steps

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Today’s lesson is for you intermediate drummers who are ready to step up your hand speed when keeping time during a groove.
However, there’s a big barrier standing in the way for many drummers. Maybe your right hand does just fine when playing slowly, but it gets stiff and clumsy when trying to play accent-tap 16ths. This leaves you exhausted in the middle of a song and frustrated with your skill not being up to par.
So let’s fix this today. Follow these 3 steps, and we’ll get you smoothly nailing hihat 16ths like Jeff Porcaro did in Toto’s “Africa.” YOU CAN DO THIS!
Check out these lessons to go deeper!
Play LOUDER & FASTER without hand pain! Here’s how:
• Play LOUDER & FASTER w...
Solve sloppy FLAMMING in your hihat 16th grooves
• Solve sloppy FLAMMING ...
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[@CourtneyAnneMcNally]

2:44 the firmer (yet relaxed) grip you must use for fast hat playing (tip at 4:44) 7:00 the lethargic arm motion that makes your 16ths effortless 15:51 the strength-building method that gives you the endurance to play the whole song

[@drumvet]

Great lesson. I am a "weekend warrior" in a classic rock band and I always benefit from your lessons. Your mastery of fundamentals is very much appreciated and brings me back to where I started learning the basics. Being that Jeff Pocaro was one of my major influences I appreciated this lesson even more and will push my band to learn Africa even more.

[@ub4it]

Hold the Line by Jeff - great tune

[@martwelten6218]

Nice lesson Stephen! I remember my teacher tought me this lesson many moons ago and he told me to imagine that you have a tennisbal in your hand, throw it on the floor and catch it back again. You will get the same motion of your arm but maybe it helps explaining the exercise

[@btairborne71]

Tom Sawyer is the first song I thought of, to be able to play that song with the crisp precision like Neil played it is one hell of a challenge in my opinion.

[@DrumsTillDeath]

30 yrs of playing Starting with Punk in the 80’s. This technique was a secret of the Pro’s for two long. Good thing my first drums were my pillows.

[@markchandler531]

James Gadson’s infectious swung 16th note groove on Kissing My Love. Whatta groove!

[@vickiwhite8017]

James Godson’s groove on Kissing My Love is in-between straight and swung, at around 91-95 bpm

[@flashfan1122]

FANTASTIC lesson ..really came at a perfect time for me with trying to learn 16ths. THANK you sir!

[@danielunderhill6086]

Todd Sucherman explains this technique very well adding more of a locomotive wrist action where the accent is a push and the taps are a pull

[@stevejenkins6919]

Yeah. I'd love to hear Stephen's take on Todd's motion. I'm more comfortable with this lesson's technique (so far). Todd's description kinda wears me out (again...so far :) As far as other quickie 16th workouts how about "Georgy Porgy" (Toto w/ Porcaro).

[@johngaltfan9703]

I really needed this lesson. I'm struggling to play the Lido Shuffle; another tune Pocaro played on. I've been beating my stick into the car seat next to me as I drive an hour to and from band practice. Your teaching style is very comfortable and i very much appreciate your lessons.

[@alancarver2511]

Steve. Yet another grip for another situation. If your primal grip has 8 exceptions for 8 different things to play ( a 9th coming next month) it's maybe because you're discovering its limitations. Suggestion: the grip you showed for the buzz roll 5 months ago can be used to play most of the time and for almost every situation. You can use it with very relaxed hands when you play other things than buzz rolls. It would be the first step in the right direction. Tks.

[@allanjavery6969]

nice lesson Steven thanks Allan

[@GeoffGillDrums]

Great stuff / pro tips. For tempo tunes, I have had good luck slowly speeding up using “what you won’t do for love” (GO WEST) at 85, then “clever girl” (TOP) at 91, then “Africa” at 93 then “I keep forgetting” at 96 then “funky drummer” at 100.

[@thaddeusodonnell3986]

I keep a pair of sticks in my car and use my steering wheel basically working on this w the moeler motion when im at stop lights. Sometimes ill learn some cool stuff especially when listenin to the jazz station, but seriously dont play while driving. you cant make driving changes with sticks in hands.

[@drummermomcjs]

I love Africa from Toto! Jeff was such a powerful and versatile drummer, such a shame that he left us so soon. I also love their song Hold the Line as it has an infectious 16th-note triplets groove as well. And of course, I love many of the tight 16th notes The Professor played on many of Rush's songs. What You Won't Do For Love by Bobby Caldwell has a really great 16th-note groove also that you should check out.

[@davepoulsen-bi9un]

Nice job I've been stuck in writers call it writer's block I'll call it drum block you help me a lot thank you

[@crichardson536]

Tom Sawyer as mentioned. How about Welcome to Paradise/GreenDay Calling all angels/Train, that sorta breakdown thing midway thru Great lesson here, thanks for sharing!

[@nilsbrodersen4394]

Thanks for good lesson! Georgy porgy by Toto, some fast 16s there! 😅

[@stephan9581]

Great video instructions. I landed here because I wanted to play Anderson Paak Come Down. It’s 97 bpm so I have some weeks to practice I guess :) another great song to practice 16th hihats at a slower speed is ghost town from the specials.

[@Hammerpercussion]

Yes, Jeff was the drummer for Toto and co wrote the tune etc it’s actually Omar Hakim who played the track. Omar was recording at the same LA studio and Jeff had him play on it.

[@tdrum21]

Classics to me are: I keep forgettin, Love Land, Express Yourself, Use Me, Come Live with me Angel, You Got Me, 7 days. Anything Gadson, Pocaro, Purdie, Nate Smith

[@kiddster2112]

I just discovered "What Goes On" by the Beatles on another youtube video. It's actually super hard! 195bpm, and it's actually a shuffle hihat pattern, which is even tougher than straight 16ths. (And Ringo sings while he plays it).

[@akabannik]

Thank you for the great advices, Steve! The 16ths song that I am trying to master is Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z

[@BobJBand]

Scarlet Begonias - Grateful Dead The studio version is 84 bpm

[@TheDjerni]

Absolutely great video, thanks. Love the concept of ‘master it slow’ and then the muscle memory can take over. ‘Dragon Attack’ by Queen is a great track for hi hat speed and control.

[@cvrobertogiammanco]

Skin Trade - Duran Duran (Steve Ferrone) Nice bass drum too.

[@halloola3636]

Thanks a lot! Very good lesson!

[@davidsykes9331]

Ty

[@kevingassnola4674]

Huge fan of chad sexton from 311 I’d love to learn this technique so my covers sound more like his! Deff gonna try!

[@renevanleersum]

Hello Maestro Can you please explain the hihat 16th of Robert Palmers song Every kind of people My whole life struggle with those 16 th . Thanx

[@VRAD1981]

Also an alternative to using a towel is moongel pad. I use this and after a few minutes you can feel the burn in your forearm.

[@danielnikitin6536]

Thank you so much for this lesson Steve! I learned Africa about a year ago but still playing the hihat with both hands. I’m feeling very uncomfortable with fast playing with the right hand, getting tired and giving up too fast. My maximum right now is 162 bpm (8 notes) or, accordingly, 81 bpm (16 notes). Now I know which direction should I follow and which technique should I develop🙂 My fav 16 notes songs are Numb, Everlong and Son Deneme (by Turkish band mor ve ötesi). Literally the first ones that came to my mind

[@celebrandir]

"Theme from `Shaft'", Isaac Hayes

[@michaelkrause5305]

Tom Sawyer. But Peart hammers them out evenly rather than using accent tap. Very challenging.

[@fernandopiovesana]

I have a hard time doing shuffles at this tempo for long periods. I can"t apply Moeler's without affecting the power of the backbeat. Feels like there's no space for it.

[@ronaldsoller6040]

Midnight Rider from the Allman Brothers. Ramblin Man is similar.

[@juliandancingshadow4959]

can talk about the same thing but about speeding up on Power blast on the snare drum

[@CTBlaze]

Transmission by Joy Division, ca 150bpm, not one handed though 😅 (1st year beginner here, but I can play Transmission at 130-140bpm)

[@nedgrant4655]

The first time I saw/heard 16th notes on the hi-hat I said “What!?” and started practicing: you can see a bit of the drummers’ technique on Lovin Spoonful Darlin Be Home Soon Ed Sullivan 1967 KZbin… it comes during the A sections. Gotta look quick. 55+ years, and I’ve never forgotten…

[@ghettostreamlabs5724]

Funny enough, every 16th note groove that came to mind as a "favorite" were almost all Jeff Procaro LOL. I Keep Forgettin', Lido Shuffle, Tom Sawyer, and Africa would be my favorites though.

[@MegaDeox]

Tom Sawyer is Neil Peart.

[@adrian.v.85]

Yes, I Keep Forgettin‘ is a good one. Even Jeff himself said that his arms were „about to fall off“ when he recorded it. It‘s up there though, close to 95 bpm I think. I‘ll Be Over You (Toto) is a bit slower & easier to do. Also, I like Vinnie Colaiuta‘s 16th groove on Breezin‘ (George Benson & Al Jarreau)

[@vickiwhite8017]

Don’t forget James Garson on Bill Withers - Kissing My Love

[@peterburge9973]

Thanks. What about fast 8th notes on the ride ? Check out 'One Way Out' by the Allman Brothers.

[@StoyanStoyanov88]

I use always french grip on hi hat

[@Fearfullyandwonderfullymade888]

Funky drummer is my favourite 16th hats

[@radoslavradosevic4586]

Randy Craford -come into my life!!

[@rickanderson8227]

Blue on Black

[@texxhexxmm]

what is on your snare and which head/tuning? it sounds so good ;)!

[@inventorsyndrome8894]

cool

[@vaughnchauncy8360]

The intro to 'never gonna give you up' by Barry White the drummer Ed Greene it starts with hihat 16ths I always wondered what the notes were.he sounds like he has perfect technique.

[@Z-ManBarzell]

Just listened to the track. You’re spot on 👌😎

[@jerrylehti7230]

Player , Baby Come Back BPM 80,cant recall drummers name ? cool song i think its strait unaccented sixteenths challengeing YA !!

[@Algo1]

Hallowed Be Thy Name would be my favourite

[@Algo1]

Everybody Wants to Rule The World?

[@Ricacardo]

I always thought Clive used both hands as opposed to moeller or push pull

[@pandui]

Nicko plays it with one hand live!

[@johnward3143]

I can't seem to get instagram

[@redims8967]

Two songs from Kings of Leon quickly come to mind: McFearless and My Party.

[@rjinnella]

How about bill withers Use Me

[@jon2552-o7v]

Listen to the country song "14 Carat Mind". Wrist burner!!

[@bridgetcramer7779]

LOL, I drum with the exact same slippers.

[@kaischroeder4473]

Just got paid (ZZ Top, Joe Bonamassa, ...).

[@johnward3143]

April wine say hello. Great for stamina.

[@IrishStoner]

fast is np anything under say 95 bpm that's the challenge lol... until i replace these factory cymbals I'll stick to basics and save this lesson away for later

[@thaddeusodonnell3986]

Hey Stephen, just wanna confirm as it seems someone is using your name and pic on telegram to say ppl won a giveaway, and then trying to charge them over 100 bucks in shipping.. if that was you I apologize. But ive got loads of fraud detection training and the name commenting to everyone had an underscore between stephen clarke as your channel name doesnt so after they didnt talk about drums at all and showed more and more signs of not bein legit I thought id come and let you know.

[@Jay902017]

Kissing My Love

[@davidbrooks9134]

XAveriSCOTT

[@davidbrooks9134]

Hfhxh

[@davidbrooks9134]

Pvn n

[@joesegura9993]

Big mouth and how soon is now by the Smith's

[@rbjax2001]

Both great tunes! Bigmouth is blazing fast around 130bpm. Mike Joyce played both of those with alternating hands.

[@Tonopp]

You're very handsome

[@mattalones93]

Too much talking

[@campbeja001]

Have you realized how much redundancy in talking occurs on your videos? They are too long also. Drummers want a simple explanation with demonstration but you go way beyond that...what is the point if people lose patience and leave? Clearly you bring good ideas to the table, just be more succinct please.

[@Mastiff37]

Yes and no. I agree this one is a bit drawn out, but I also like some "editorializing" on common mistakes, how long things take to learn, etc. Just seeing an expert demonstrate something is not always very helpful. People who can't remember what it's like not to be able to do it aren't great teachers.

[@campbeja001]

@@Mastiff37 My opinion. You don't have to listen

[@petermoeller5901]

Repetition is a good teaching technique. If Stephen's videos are too basic for you, I guess find a different channel. Most of Stephen's videos are for beginners, reaching into intermediate. For those people (who haven't heard it all before) the pace of the videos is perfect.

[@campbeja001]

@@petermoeller5901 Wow you seem to know everything. I was polite and gave good advise. I wasn't the only one who felt this way but of course you knew that already. Repetition is fine but there was extra verbal redundancy that could have been avoided without loss of teaching quality.

[@chancecsmith]

These videos are always very useful. But I do find myself picking and choosing which ones I watch because of time. I dont know if it’s always best, but the shorter a video is the more likely I am to watch.

[@powslayer5632]

Rush Tom Sawyer. That song is definitely an endurance test. Plus he throws in all those little subtle flares that you really have to listen for. Those subtle flares could be viewed kind of like Ghost Notes, very subtle and hard to hear but add so much texture.

[@cheezruff]

Too much contrast.

[@thomasnappo6309]

How the heck...do you have 22k views...beats me