Hi-Hat foot technique

[Shalaq]

Which technique do you play on the hi-hat?
When I play soft, jazzy or swing tunes I play heel down, because my other leg goes heel down. In rock etc I use heel up to get more power and to get sharper splashes. I also incorporate a lot of heel-toe on the hi-hat to get that "splash-chick" sound and have my hands free to play the ride or toms. What do you guys use?

 

[BillRayDrums]

Generally on the bal of my foot (heel up) but I do lots of splashes and stuff. I don't play a double bass pedal so I try and incorporate lots of rhythmic textures on my hi hat when applicable.

~B

 

[m]

I find that it varies, like with bass pedal technique; depends on what's going on overall. Usually heel-down, but for pumping some fast 8ths (a la Budgie) sometimes I'll lift my whole leg.

 

[Rob the Drummer]

It varies with me. For more control I play with heel down. Sometimes I do a combination with heel up and heel down when I do hat "crashes" with the foot. Anytime I'm not playing directly on the hats, the foot is goin on the hats. As a matter of fact, I feel awkward not using the foot on the hats when I'm riding or anything else.

 

[wolfsburg6674]

im usually on the ball of my foot heel up but lately ive been playing with the arch of my foot on hi-hat and bass...its kinda a balance....im still getting used to it...

 

[quikstang2]

Since I'm almost always playing double bass I just set it where I want it and leave it alone.

When I'm not doing double bass I'll play heel down (I play everything heel down because my first drum teacher made me and I never broke the habbit). Even then I'm usually just holding the cymbals at a certain distance or closed. I usually only actually play them when I'm counting time in during breaks in the music so everyone in the band knows where we are.

 

[Exzilibus]

I mainly use heel up for regular use.

Other than that I change my technique for whenever I want to play double bass but with open/closed hi-hat stuff on top. I have my hi-hat pedal & slave bass pedal so close that they're almost touching...that way I can control the hi-hat with the ball of my foot and control the slave pedal with the heel of my foot.

 

[fas-tedz]

I play mostly rock, so always heel up, toe down. If i do play very quietly, I may plant the heel.

 

[Animal]

Usually I play with my toes (heel up).
I use left leg very actively, as I stamp 8-notes almost all the time while I play. Gives a good reference to a steady beat, I think.

Somtimes I may play heel down, but only to rest the leg ocationally!

 

[josdrummer08]

it depends

 

[Daza73]

i always use heal down though ive never tried heel up on hi hat

 

[Beej]

I play mostly rock, so always heel up, toe down. If i do play very quietly, I may plant the heel.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Agree wholeheartedly.

 

[lousypadrummer]

Heel up, always. Not sure why, just a habit I guess

 

[Rob Crisp]

I mix it up.

Generally I'll play heel up for a decent tight "chick" for keeping time etc. If I want a splash then heel down but sometimes for really aggressive splashing, whole foot just off the pedal and then heel lands first, splashing hats as leg comes down.

 

[LadyThunder]

I find that it varies, like with bass pedal technique; depends on what's going on overall. Usually heel-down, but for pumping some fast 8ths (a la Budgie) sometimes I'll lift my whole leg.

I do pretty much the same... I play heel-down mostly, but in the heavier parts i'll lift my whole leg. It definately does help with time.

 

[Potatoe Snack]

toes down.

 

[break the prism]

i play a heel-toe style on the hi-hat. i get a lot more dynamic contrasts and it allows me to play double bass while opening and closing my hi-hat. a nifty little trick to throw in my repetoire

 

[drumschick07]

Most of the time Heel up. If I'm playing a slow song heel down.