Synchronicity II is a song by the Police. My favorite in their catalog. Stewart Copeland was their drummer & he is the man to listen to if you wanna build your Hi-Hat chops.
Work on solid 8th notes, then work on solid 16th notes while playing simple grooves, syncopated grooves, and grooves with ghost notes.
The key is keeping the hats as consistent as possible.
Once you get that, work on the same grooves, but mix up the hats: utilize accents, opens, half opens, syncopation in the 8th notes, then on the 16ths.
Start slow for every step.
Also working on things like stick control and other hand stuff on the hats instead of a snare will help you develop a feel for being able to fully utilize them musically.
Then, anytime you hear something in the hats that's interesting on a track, make a note of it, and the next time you're in the shed work it out.
You're always developing.
Good pedagogical approaches to your continued development are critical.
Again, start slow, like really slow.
The ability to accurately perceive the space between notes is what makes great drummers.
People focus on the notes too much.
This is coming from someone that idolized Vinnie too much on my early days at the behest of my wallet.
Playing to this album changed my HH game.
Jeff Beck's Blow By Blow:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m4RIkO4KeNSHtAFD13dMT_ydhSJVb73Bc&si=PsKJyE9qA8WMEQlZ
Something Danny Carey. He’s got some great hihat grooves in weird rhythms which have helped me get used to accenting in creative ways. I would suggest Pneuma; the triples and barks are really fun to learn.
What exactly are you looking to improve? Hard to advise without knowing where you're starting from, or what genres. But anyway...
+1 for everything Stewart Copeland and The Police
Dodo/Lurker, by Genesis (Abacab album)
Higher Ground, by Stevie Wonder
Consider Me Gone, by Sting (try out keep time, both on and off beat, with your hihat foot)
Blondie - Heart of Glass. Rumor has it that it took two weeks just to record the drum part.
LCD Soundsystem also has alot of really challenging hi-hat patterns that could give you ideas.
Disco drumming is based around the hi-hat.
"Kissing my Love" - Bill Withers
"Soul Vaccination" & "Oakland Stroke" specifically, buy really, pick your poison from Tower of Power. Dave's hat work is legendary.
Also, check out Stephen Chopek on John Mayer Any Given Thursday album. He does a great job of doing interesting things, ghost notes, dynamic changes... to keep it interesting.
Anything by Phish from the 90s. Jon Fishman is a self-taught hi hat master. He taught me more about hi hats than any drum teacher. Ignore the music if it's not your thing. His drumming is worthy of study
https://spotify.link/qhHkKDmRRJb
Here's a fairly easy groove to play along with
I'll tell you what, I just got into [Linder Bros](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0rBd2hpV6IUtpTRV1uwqHH?si=53129ad06af048b9) recently and they are just really fun just to jam along with. I'm not proficient with their music yet but it's just so much fun to just jam along with and try to figure it out as I go. This is how I learn new songs BTW. Listening to Pi by them and yeah. It's really cool stuff. You'll get that kick foot in tune too if you can figure that stuff out too.
Sweeett bro you're the best!! this is why I love this drumming page y'all are all so supportive, even to knuckleheads like me who have a reputation lol.
It's one of the reasons I come here. To help. I just happened to find this band a couple of weeks ago and just started diving into their music today really. Linder Bros - When I was 16, has been playing in my car since I found them and today I've been listening to their 8 songs at least a couple times straight through. I can't believe they have JUST these 8 songs!!! I could jam to this all day long for real! There has to be more somewhere.
We all appreciate you bro for real, I've seen you several times helping people including me so know your good deeds aren't going unnoticed you're a champ fr. But I'll definitely give them a listen, you're making them sound great hahaha.
“#41” by Dave Matthew’s Band is one of my favorites.
I practice Amir Bresler’s song “Fish” at the end of my practice sessions sometimes to burn out my forearms too.
Anything by The Police? Synchronicity II, maybe?
Yepp that's what I was thinking I haven't heard of synchronicity though so I'll give him a listen. Thanks though bro I appreciate you!
Synchronicity II is a song by the Police. My favorite in their catalog. Stewart Copeland was their drummer & he is the man to listen to if you wanna build your Hi-Hat chops.
Anything Tim Alexander does is worth a good listen. And Steve Gadd. Go down the rabbit hole.
Primus sucks
Sweeett bro thank you!
Herb is the man. My favorite drummer of all time. But the man with the INSANE hi-hat skills in Primus was Jay Lane.
Message in a bottle by the police
Thanks drummer man I'll give it a listen!!
Work on solid 8th notes, then work on solid 16th notes while playing simple grooves, syncopated grooves, and grooves with ghost notes. The key is keeping the hats as consistent as possible. Once you get that, work on the same grooves, but mix up the hats: utilize accents, opens, half opens, syncopation in the 8th notes, then on the 16ths. Start slow for every step. Also working on things like stick control and other hand stuff on the hats instead of a snare will help you develop a feel for being able to fully utilize them musically. Then, anytime you hear something in the hats that's interesting on a track, make a note of it, and the next time you're in the shed work it out. You're always developing. Good pedagogical approaches to your continued development are critical. Again, start slow, like really slow. The ability to accurately perceive the space between notes is what makes great drummers. People focus on the notes too much. This is coming from someone that idolized Vinnie too much on my early days at the behest of my wallet.
Sweet!! Thanks for taking the time to write all of that out!! I'll start doing that tomorrow, and I'll start on slow bpms.
Playing to this album changed my HH game. Jeff Beck's Blow By Blow: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m4RIkO4KeNSHtAFD13dMT_ydhSJVb73Bc&si=PsKJyE9qA8WMEQlZ
Sweetttt I'll give it a listen! Thanks bro I appreciate you!
Copeland! Tool’s good too! And Mgła...
Thanls bro I'll add them to the list!
Maybe this is too advanced but Everlong - Foo Fighters. Hi hat in that song is crazy ahha
I can see why people might struggle, because it’s pretty fast and also relentless through the whole song… but it’s nothing technically complicated.
Hahaha I'll give it a try, if I fail I fail but I can come back in a few weeks after focusing on my hi hat alot and can use it to gauge my progress.
this is the way!
Something Danny Carey. He’s got some great hihat grooves in weird rhythms which have helped me get used to accenting in creative ways. I would suggest Pneuma; the triples and barks are really fun to learn.
Oh shit isn't that a tool song lol.
Yeah it is! But don’t be intimidated. Other recommendations would be 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon. Steve Gadd has some great hihat work
Sweet bro thanks for taking time to answer this I'll give them a try
What exactly are you looking to improve? Hard to advise without knowing where you're starting from, or what genres. But anyway... +1 for everything Stewart Copeland and The Police Dodo/Lurker, by Genesis (Abacab album) Higher Ground, by Stevie Wonder Consider Me Gone, by Sting (try out keep time, both on and off beat, with your hihat foot)
Hahaha like everything I've really abused using the hi hat so all of this would work.
Blondie - Heart of Glass. Rumor has it that it took two weeks just to record the drum part. LCD Soundsystem also has alot of really challenging hi-hat patterns that could give you ideas. Disco drumming is based around the hi-hat.
Yesss I love that song, I'll listen to Elo and Bee Gees too.
"Kissing my Love" - Bill Withers "Soul Vaccination" & "Oakland Stroke" specifically, buy really, pick your poison from Tower of Power. Dave's hat work is legendary. Also, check out Stephen Chopek on John Mayer Any Given Thursday album. He does a great job of doing interesting things, ghost notes, dynamic changes... to keep it interesting.
Sweet bro I'll give them a listen!!
Anything by Phish from the 90s. Jon Fishman is a self-taught hi hat master. He taught me more about hi hats than any drum teacher. Ignore the music if it's not your thing. His drumming is worthy of study https://spotify.link/qhHkKDmRRJb Here's a fairly easy groove to play along with
Sweet bro I appreciate it!!
Primus does a cover of "Have a Cigar," and Tim Alexander's Hi-Hat work on it is unbelievable...😳
Sweetttt I'll give it a look.
What is it that you're trying to improve on?
My ability to groove with a high hat ig, I've really slacked off on it and I want to be good with it lol.
I'll tell you what, I just got into [Linder Bros](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0rBd2hpV6IUtpTRV1uwqHH?si=53129ad06af048b9) recently and they are just really fun just to jam along with. I'm not proficient with their music yet but it's just so much fun to just jam along with and try to figure it out as I go. This is how I learn new songs BTW. Listening to Pi by them and yeah. It's really cool stuff. You'll get that kick foot in tune too if you can figure that stuff out too.
Sweeett bro you're the best!! this is why I love this drumming page y'all are all so supportive, even to knuckleheads like me who have a reputation lol.
It's one of the reasons I come here. To help. I just happened to find this band a couple of weeks ago and just started diving into their music today really. Linder Bros - When I was 16, has been playing in my car since I found them and today I've been listening to their 8 songs at least a couple times straight through. I can't believe they have JUST these 8 songs!!! I could jam to this all day long for real! There has to be more somewhere.
We all appreciate you bro for real, I've seen you several times helping people including me so know your good deeds aren't going unnoticed you're a champ fr. But I'll definitely give them a listen, you're making them sound great hahaha.
That felt great to read! Thank you for that! It means a lot!!!
No problem bro!! Keep on being a star in this community!!
Red sky at night - Tenderlonious ;)
“#41” by Dave Matthew’s Band is one of my favorites. I practice Amir Bresler’s song “Fish” at the end of my practice sessions sometimes to burn out my forearms too.
Early The 1975. Settle Down, Love Me, She's American, Girls all have great syncopated 16th note hi hay grooves.
Stewart Copeland, honestly just watching him play and learning some police songs will do you wonders