How To Play Hi Hat With Foot

ConvertedLudwigPlayer

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The other thread I posted about the distance between the hi-hat and angle, got me thinking about foot positioning on the hi-hat stand.

Do you play heel up, down, or a mix of the two? I think I am playing heel down the vast majority of the time. I started playing heel down on my pedals decades ago, but migratedto heep up onthe bass drum pedal. I think heel down on hi-hat probably gives me more balance / stability since I play heel up on the bass drum pedal. That and the fact I am not doing a lot of "dancing" on the hi-hat pedal.

devinw

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It would be a combo for me. Sometimes I'll keep time by tapping out eighths (or patterns of them) with my heel, and rock with the toe to open. Similar thing going on with like a standard jazz (2 and 4 pattern).

I might go heel up if I was rocking quick 8ths solid though. Think like a Bonham solo type situation.

Heels up, both feet. When I was a kid, I instinctively felt most comfortable this way and found I could increase my speed by utilizing the ball of my foot and my big toe to lever the pedals. Still works for me...

I play both heel up and heel down - mostly heel up though.
Hats are as far apart as they can be.

When in the heat of battle, I have a problem with keeping my hi hat foot still.
I've killed a ching ring before.
#chchchchchchCHING

DanRH

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anthony marquart

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yeah,. I have trouble keeping my left foot from going all the time.. heel up

Mostly heel down, but heel up when it calls for a certain sound or pattern.

I had to go play to make sure, lol.

Definitely both. Heel up for stomping out 8th notes and such with the foot and most chick sounds. Heel down for open hi-hat and sloshy sounds.

NYFrank

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I don't know what I do actually, but I have caught myself doing the rocking motion on some songs.

NYFrank

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drumdevil9 said:

I had to go play to make sure, lol.

Definitely both. Heel up for stomping out 8th notes and such with the foot and most chick sounds. Heel down for open hi-hat and sloshy sounds.

This is probably the answer for most of us.

ian.lbc

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usually my heels down unless I'm keeping time with my left foot, then heel up.

tnetts

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I used both,depends on the musical situations....

TDM

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I use many foot positions and techniques. Heel down. Heel up. Toe flex (which is why I always play without shoes). Rotating with the ball of the foot. Rocking heel-toe. Sliding up the footboard. Lots of different things.

Depends on the music. In jazz, you can really get a groove going heel down, but rocking back and forth from the heel to the front. Heel on 1 and 3, front on 2 and 4.

Then Tony Williams came along and broke the rules, playing heel up on all four quarter notes.

SwivoNut

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I use the rocking motion (Joe Morello technique). After the downstroke with the toe down and the heel up, I bring the heel down hard. On a wooden bandstand, the whole big band can feel it and it helps keep everybody together.

Dave H.

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Pretty much heal up depends on what I am playing!

cymtrich

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heel down unless i want to "splash" them. bill