Hi Hat Drum Techniques Combining Foot & Stick

Part of the Video Series How to Play Drums

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Use hi hat playing techniques that use the foot pedal in combination with sticks; learn how with tips from our expert drum and percussion instructor in this free drum kit video music lesson.

Contact: www.bluehandpercussion.com

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Tags: drums, drums, instrument, instruments, music lessons, musical instruments, musical technique, percussion, snare drum
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Video Transcript

Hi Hat Drum Techniques Combining Foot & Stick
Hi! My name if Frank and we’re going to look at the combining of the sticks on the hi-hat with the different techniques that we use with the foot. So let’s take a look. We already know from the other clip that your foot goes up and down in different ways, which means the hi-hat cymbals are going to come together and go apart. All you have to do is be creative and the sky’s the limit. By all means listen to the masters, by all means listen to the music that’s out there and get inspiration. And you know what? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with stealing from other drummers, but you’ll always remain yourself. Even if you do something that another drummer’s done, you’ll still do it your way—that’s just the way we are, that’s how unique humanity is. So you find out what works for you. Let’s see how we can work this hi-hat. If I got my sticks, playing with the tip of the sticks on the bow of the cymbal, if I push down really hard, the pitch raises…if I let off the cymbal and it’s open, it gets a totally different sound. Rockers love this, and what you’re not going to find is them using the tip of the stick, they’re going to use the shoulder of the stick, it’s pretty loud. And then what many drummers, regardless of style, do is play the shoulder of the stick with a half open hi-hat, so it’s touching but it’s not tight, and you get this kind of a sound…and of course you can splash open, you can do different combinations—let’s take a look. I’ll play it traditional style using both tips and shoulders of the stick. We’ll see what we can come up with.

About the Expert

Expert: Frank Favacho is the 2004 & 2005 winner of the "Guitar Center Drum Off" and has performed and recorded with a large variety of groups. He currently teaches in Austin, TX. Read More