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Taming the Hi-hat Foot | Earth Rhythms
Thomas Lang Creative Control Tour

Taming the Hi-hat Foot

by Michael Green

Controlling the hi-hat foot is an issue that every drummer has to confront at one time or another. Most of us get the idea of playing "2" and "4" on the hi-hat and then focus on developing the other three limbs, oftentimes neglecting the hi-hat foot. Steps must be taken to tame this wild bouncing beast–but where to start? You don't have to wait until you have a double bass drum pedal to develop your left foot (right foot for those who are left handed). In fact, there is a lot that can be done with that hi-hat contraption. For excellent examples check out some players like Jeff "Tain" Watts and Jack Dejohnette.

Why not approach it the same way we develop the bass drum foot? With the opposite limb maintaining a simple pattern. Usually drummers develop the bass drum while playing "2" and "4" on the hi-hat. So, for this article why don't we try the opposite? For the following exercises keep the bass drum doing a steady "1" and "3" and give the hi-hat foot some action. These exercises will help develop some of the same control and balance over the hi-hat foot as most of us have over the bass drum foot. Remember that these exercises are simply to get you started and then the sky is the limit.

Thanks for reading this issue of Percussion Sessions.
Feel free to email comments or questions to me at mtgreen76@yahoo.com