Why does my hi hat sound bad?

Why does my hi hat sound bad?

If there is too much separation between the two, you are only getting the high pitched, and somewhat piercing sound of the top cymbal. Most good quality hi-hat cymbal sets have a higher pitched cymbal on the top, and a heavier weight lower pitched cymbal on the bottom. Combined, they give you a classic hi hat sound.

Why is it called Hi Hat?

The hi-hat ("pedal" or "cymbal" or "pair of cymbals"), called "charleston" in French, may come from the town of the same name in South Carolina, with high afro-american population, in 1920 (the first jazz drummers at early twentieth century, such as Warren "Baby" Dodds , do not have it, and the two pedals "low boy" ( …

What is Hi Hat music?

A hi-hat (hihat, high-hat, etc.) is a combination of two cymbals and a pedal, all mounted on a metal stand. It is a part of the standard drum kit used by drummers in many styles of music including rock, pop, jazz, and blues.

Is a cymbal a drum?

A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. … Drum kits usually incorporate at least a crash, ride, or crash/ride, and a pair of hi-hat cymbals. A player of cymbals is known as a cymbalist.

What is a closed hi hat?

Open and closed hi-hat refer to notes struck while the two cymbals are apart or together (open or closed), while pedal hi-hat refers to parts or notes played solely with the pedal used to strike the two cymbals. Most cymbal patterns consist of both open and closed notes.

How far apart should hi hat cymbals be?

Probably 1" to 2" depending on the cymbals and stand. I tend to angle the bottom hat away from me slightly. That way when the top cymbal comes down it protects the edge of the bottom cymbal from being hit directly with the sticks.

What is a Hi Hat used for?

How do you play drums for beginners?

Crash cymbals were traditionally placed on the left side of the drum set (for a right-handed drummer) since the normally larger ride cymbal is usually on the right, however some drummers set up their crash on the right.

What does a high hat sound like?

When struck closed or played with the pedal, the hi-hat gives a short, crisp, muted percussive sound, referred to as a "chick". Adjusting the gap between the cymbals can alter the sound of the open hi-hat from a shimmering, sustained tone to something similar to a ride cymbal.

How does a hi hat work?

There are actually two cymbals that lay on top of each other with bells pointed in opposite directions. The lower cymbal of the Hi Hat is static. In other words, it doesn't move. The upper one is actually connected to an upper pull rod which is used to raise or lower the cymbal.

Can you use a hi hat as a crash?

Re: Hi Hat as a crash? Go for it. If the hat is thin enough it should sound like a crash. Bottom hats though are usually too heavy and sound gongy and have short sustain, but if you want a flanger bell type effect thats one way to achieve it.

How do you notate a hi hat?

2 Answers. This should be understandable. The hats are notated by the x note heads above the top line of the staff. The + above a note indicates playing the closed hi-hat with a stick, and the o above a note head indicates playing an open hi-hat with a stick.

noun. The definition of a high hat is slang for a snob, or is a pair of cymbals played by hitting a foot pedal. An example of a high hat is a person who believes that everyone else is not as good as he is. An example of a high hat is a pair of cymbals often used in jazz music.

Why do my cymbals sound bad?

If your cymbals are cracked, dented, or key-holed, the sound can be permanently impaired. While cracks and dents are obvious, "key-holing" is less so.

How do you make a high hat cymbal?

Where does the crash cymbal go?