Hi Hat Tricks And Technique For Drummers

Drummers can make a cool beat even better with hi hat tricks and grooves!

Hi hat tricks offer some of the coolest grooves on the kit.  There are many different directions you can go with hi hat cymbals, from simple beats to very complex tricks.  Most drummers aren’t fully aware of all the different things you can pull off with hi hat cymbals.  Even just learning how to open and close them within the beat can be difficult at first, but when you get it down can change up the beat in a very cool way.  I thought it would be cool to pull together a few videos that offer hi hat trick and technique lessons.  The post starts out with simple open/close hi hat beats, then moves onto some hi hat groove ideas from Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews Band, then onto two legendary drummers that showcase hi hat solos: Max Roach and Steve Smith.  I think there’s a lot here that you will learn from and enjoy, so take a look!

I’ll start off with a video from drumlessons.com that introduces open/close hi hat techniques in basic grooves.  Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q4IyYBIlHM.

Now onto Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews Band.  Beauford is a great drummer that incorporates many different hi hat grooves into his playing.  Check out the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3WS9g2ONr8&feature=related.

The next video features a hi hat solo from the great drummer, Max Roach.  Roach uses many of the tricks found in early swing, bebop and big band arrangements that he helped originate in the 1940s and 50s.  Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8syiOwwVyY&feature=related.

The last video I will leave you with in this post comes from the awesome drummer, Steve Smith.  Known primarily for his work with the band, Journey, Smith is an outstanding drummer that has recorded and played in a variety of bands and musical styles.  Check out his hi hat solo at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Or2SmIDxdY&feature=related.

Most of the videos in this post don’t slow down to show what the drummers are doing, but it’s pretty amazing what you can pick up by just watching them play.  If you have any questions about these hi hat tricks, or just want to know what they are doing, you can always ask me too.  Who knows, there may be a lesson waiting for you right around the corner about the hi hat at Play Drums By Ear.

Thanks and take care!

Chris