mainedrummer
Dyna-Sonic Member
Registered: 04-2007
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 1471
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Keeping the beat on the hihat
I have always played the hihat on the 2 & 4, like a large percentage of the players I've seen and heard. But, a couple of weeks ago I went to a drum clinic hosted by our local Drum Shop with Akira Jimbo (look him up on Youtube). He was great! But one thing he did caught my attention and interest. He played 8th notes on the hihat, for just about everything he did. For the limited amount of time I've gotten to practice over the holidays I've been trying to duplicate that. What a trip, trying to change something I've done forever!
A good clip of him is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwNcWITsbw4
What do others here play on their hihat? Thinking back I've heard drummers play quarter notes, or all four beats of 4/4 time, one drummer in Portland, OR played the "and" of the backbeat - that gave an interesting feel to his drumming with a blues band. Akira was the first I've paid attention to and noticed him playing 8th notes in 4/4 time.
Another note, Akira is a Zildijan endorser and has helped develop a line called K Custom Hybrid Series - VERY impressive sounding cymbals. Of course they are also VERY expensive but the 21" ride he was playing was, to my ears, a perfect sounding cymbal.
Last edited by mainedrummer, 1/10/2010, 10:07 am
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1/8/2010, 7:36 pm
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dexplosion
Classmate Member
Registered: 03-2008
Location: South Louisiana
Posts: 203
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Re: Keeping the beat on the hihat
I do mostly 2 & 4 on the hats.
If I'm really feeling the music, I'll do quarters or eigths.
I noticed recently I tend to still play the hats with my foot while I'm also playing them with sticks. I don't know if anyone else does that.
One thing I like to do is "crash" the hats on maybe 2 & 4 or on every down beat while doing a shuffle.
For example:
jazz ride cymbal pattern on the ride
quarters on the bass drum
swung eigths on the snare with no accents
hats "crashed" on 2 & 4 as the pseudo back beat
or
swung eigths on the snare with accents on 2 & 4
hats "crashed" on every down beat
--- DW Maple 13/16/18/24 - 6.5x14 - 6.5x14 1mm SS - 6x10 Popcorn
PDP Platinum 12/16/22 - 6.5x14 20 ply Maple/Bubinga
Rogers 9/72 Koa 13/14/16/18/24
Sabian 15 Hats - 18 & 19 Crash - 21 Ride - 36 Gong
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1/9/2010, 10:11 am
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mainedrummer
Dyna-Sonic Member
Registered: 04-2007
Location: Portland, Maine
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Re: Keeping the beat on the hihat
dexplosion - by "crash" do you mean you hit them with a stick or a hard/open "foot stomp"?
After I wrote the original post I was looking at some of the drummers I have favorited in Youtube and realized many do a lot more than just the back beats on the hihats.
I noticed when I'm doing the 2 & 4 I usually tap or feel with my heel on the 1 & 3, now all I have to do is get my toe to do all four - practicing playing different beats on the hihats is a challenge. I've got about 50 years of just playing the 2 & 4 and now I'm trying to add more. The hardest thing for me to keep the bass drum going . . . I think when I master it that will be another step toward mastering polyrythms - but right now its a challenge "disengaging one of my limbs
Last edited by mainedrummer, 1/9/2010, 11:42 am
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1/9/2010, 11:39 am
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mainedrummer
Dyna-Sonic Member
Registered: 04-2007
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 1471
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Re: Keeping the beat on the hihat
Another good clip of Akira's drumming - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs6LvqvctaE&feature=related
I can't remember if he did this one but he did a bunch that were very similar - it is all him, nothing pre-recorded that he played along with. Just programmed sounds and notes that he triggers from pickups all over his set.
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1/9/2010, 11:49 am
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dexplosion
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Registered: 03-2008
Location: South Louisiana
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Re: Keeping the beat on the hihat
"foot stomp"
Think of marching cymbals being crashed. I don't know of the term to describe it.
I had to go play after responding to you , and it turns out, I also play on the upbeat.
For example (something easy):
eigths on the ride
1 & 3 on the bass drum
2 & 4 on the snare
the "and" of every beat with the foot on the hihat
--- DW Maple 13/16/18/24 - 6.5x14 - 6.5x14 1mm SS - 6x10 Popcorn
PDP Platinum 12/16/22 - 6.5x14 20 ply Maple/Bubinga
Rogers 9/72 Koa 13/14/16/18/24
Sabian 15 Hats - 18 & 19 Crash - 21 Ride - 36 Gong
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1/10/2010, 8:57 am
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JohnsRogers
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Registered: 01-2008
Location: East Atlantic Beach, NY
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Re: Keeping the beat on the hihat
quote: mainedrummer wrote:
I noticed when I'm doing the 2 & 4 I usually tap or feel with my heel on the 1 & 3, now all I have to do is get my toe to do all four - practicing playing different beats on the hihats is a challenge. I've got about 50 years of just playing the 2 & 4 and now I'm trying to add more. The hardest thing for me to keep the bass drum going . . . I think when I master it that will be another step toward mastering polyrythms - but right now its a challenge "disengaging one of my limbs
we have the same disease !!!
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1/10/2010, 11:15 am
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Nut box
English Rogers Guru
Registered: 07-2007
Location: England.
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Re: Keeping the beat on the hihat
I am acustomed to closing the hats on 2 & 4 but often do 1,2,3,4 as well. We I was younger, my first time around, I got into playing all the 8ths after watching Bill Bruford from Yes. I think Bonham did it as well in Moby Dick, but I can't listen to that for too long.
Now, I can play all the 8ths for a short time but I haven't got the stamina back yet and I think you need to have your hh pedal set just right and I don't think mine is there yet.
I've recently subscribed to Rhythm magazine here in the UK and that has exercises to try and even complete songs transcribed, written in the mag, and recorded on a CD which comes with it. There are lots of grooves in there featuring the hh being closed in variety of different places. I'm just getting back into playing after 30 years and I'm feeling very "Old school".
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1/13/2010, 6:01 am
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rhythmace
Registered: 04-2010
Posts: 27
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Re: Keeping the beat on the hihat
Not sure if this fits in, BUT, I have to think about Tommy Igoe saying that the high hat is the tissue that holds it all together. Eighth notes on the hats. I love how that concept pulls the bass drum back some and makes things tight. Ringo has a wicked right hand. I think bouncing around on the hats with the left foot is good if it doesn't get in the way of a good rhythm, or if for the sake of variety or oher special reasons. Ace
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5/19/2010, 2:41 pm
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