Hi guys, I just recently tried playing drums.
It's all fine and dandy, the only problem I face is that I can't hit the hi-hat really fast.
I can do it with the ride cymbal, but when I try to hit at the same frequency on the hi-hat I can't do it.
I somehow lose all the momentum in my leading hand. Has any other drummer also experienced this ?
Is this just a matter of practicing or is it natural ? I really can't precisely name the speed, because I'm not attending any drumming school or something like that.
So I don't have a clue about those things like 16th notes, bpm's etc. I also noticed that some drummers, when it comes to faster tempos, take their leading hand to the snare and instead use the other one (don't know how the heck the other one is called) on the hi-hat.
Hope somebody can help me here.

Just takes practice! The hi hat is more wobbly and (not to get too scientific) isn't as sturdy as the rest of the cymbals. Try just doing half time with your hat hand. Say you're doing a downbeat where the hi hat and snare land at the same time, don't try to put any hat hits in between the time the snare and hat hit at the same time... if that makes any sense

But yeah, just takes practice. Not everyone can be Dave Lombardo in a day

Something to practice (what I do) bounce your right shoulder on beat when you are doing fast hi hat action (not with each hit, but every other). More near the back of it. It helps with the momentum and also helps keep you in time as well. Sorry, I'm very bad with drum talk as well, and I've been playing for many years

I second what John says. Just practice.

also what you are talking about with the drummers switching hands making their dominate hand the snare hand instead of the cymbal hand ( have no words for the actions either, I don't care about technical terms) that's all personal preference if you are comfortable with it. I actually lose speed and hitting power if I do that for an extended period of time. my snare hand is always my snare hand. if I switch up it's literally to show off I can do that but I only occassionally do that and it's just pointless to how I play.

Yep, practice really is the key to everything I guess.
Slowly I'm getting to the speed I want to get. The shoulder bouncing is helpful.
Today I just focused only on playing fast on the hi-hat and really after 3 hours it was getting easier and easier.
What I noticed while playing is that the hi-hat doesen't bounce the drumstick as much as the ride cymbal does.
Because of it it's harder to use your fingers to bounce back the drumstick and you have to use your wrist a little bit more to get to the really fast tempos.
But really 3 hours of only playing on the hi-hat and I already fell the difference. I'm suprised that improvement came that fast.
Still if someone has something to add to this topic, I'm willing to read all the tips.

Yeah it's natural. Also note that you don't hit the ride in the same way as you hit the hi-hat. And even if you did (it would be hard because hi-hat stands are generally taller than ride stands and the hat cymbals can't be inclined), I suppose the ride cymbal would bounce the drumstick more.

Try tightening your top hat a little so it doesnt flop around as much.

Try experimenting with the height of the hats as well. I find that having my hats as high as my stand lets me gets me more control and speed, yet my drummer in my black metal band runs his really low, and it works for him.

As far as I know, the height of the lower hat is standard and unchangeable on most charleston stands. I never played with a stand with changeable lower hat height. I'd like to set my hi-hats very low but I can't.

That's weird. I just went to look how low I can set my hats and it turns out that I can make them almost below my knee height.
When it comes to me I find myself more comfortable with hats set on almost my shoulder height (of course when I'm sitting).
It makes blasting easier for me and I can raise my snare hand pretty high without bothering that I could hit my leading hand.

every hat I've ever used has had a completely adjustable stand, even the shitty low end Pacific one I had could go super low.

My standard Mapex Venus charleston stand is not adjustable. I had a Tama stand and it wasn't either. I thought it was bound to the length of the pedal's chain (which closes or opens the hat).

Please name your brand/model and provide pictures.

That's weird, there should be a wing nut/adjustment thingamajig in the center of the hi hat stand that you can loosen up and raise and lower it. I have a Premier brand hi hat stand on one set, other set is a Pearl, both have the same thing. Will take pictuers when I get home later on.

No, I can't adjust the height at all. Are you talking about x-hats stands (without pedal) or proper charleston stands?

Check for example this model:
http://www.bax-shop.fr/gibraltar-hardwa ... rettyPhoto

The hi-hat height cannot be adjusted below 75 cm and above 95 cm.

That is totally adjustable. You just don't know how to do it. jesus christ. Not only can you not drum, but you can't even set up your own equipment. All hi hats unless it's a welded lead pipe are adjustable. i've never seen a high hat that isn't adjustable.

you have to be trolling

Yeah, those wing nuts (if you want to call them that) in the middle of the stand can be loosened allowing to raise or lower the hi hat to whatever best suits your style......

Here ya go

He wasn't trolling. He is honestly that stupid, he just got banned today for all the various other shit that he has posted that is just as incorrect.

Do you have a room in your house dedicated to drumming? that's nice.

Yup! It's the spare bedroom (was my room when I was growing up) in my house. Not that big, but just perfect for my kit

Here is an idea of what I am working with.

Fuuuuck, that is nice!

Very nice Mr. John

Thanks guys
It certainly works. Did my latest recording in there and my guitarist (who is mixing the album) said it sounded as good, if not better, than the previous work that I did in the real studio

KFD: The densest matter in the galaxy.

hahaha indeed he is.


John, that's very fucking nice, kinda looks like the set up I use



Just at my storage unit instead of my house unfortunately. Just been saving up to build a good large soundproofed shed to bring all my gear home to turn out music even faster.

Gotta love kit pics!

it's interesting to see how people have their shit set up more than anything. I don't ever get that rager some do for cymbals and toms.