How to Play Drums: Hi-Hat Rock Beats

Now, I have established just doing the quarter notes on the snare and the bass drum alternating them, I am going to move on now to introducing you to what the 8th note is. Now, on the 4/4 measure, the 8th note would be counted like this. I will give you a four count and then I will count off the 8th note on the hi hat cymbal using my right hand.

[demonstration]

So, what we are going to do now is incorporate the alternating of the bass drum and the snare with that 8th note pattern on the hi hat. So, I will count off four and I will just start with the bass drum and snare. That is a good thing to do for you in the beginning. Just do that, counting that off and then incorporate that hi hat pattern, the 8th note hi hat pattern. It is all up in 4/4 time. Now again, I am a right handed drummer and I am playing it this way. Remember, if you are left hand drummer, everything is going to be switched over and your dominant hand will be playing with the left and your bass drum would be on the left foot and the hi hat would be on the right. So, everything is switched over. So, I am going to start off with the bass drum and snare and throwing that 8th note pattern on top.

[demonstration]

That is pretty much it. That is the simple basic rock beat. And again, what you would want to focus on is up your feet on the pedals of the hi hat and bass drum. I like to play my bass drum pedal with my toe up and my heel up and my toe with the weight on it. [demonstrate]. You will feel a little bit more controlled of it. You can also play with your heel down which would also give you a little bit more control as far as dynamical. It could get a little softer that way.

And on the hi hat pedal, I also like to play it with my toe down and heel up which gives us a little more execution with the hi hat itself or you can play with the heel down. Either way works. You will find what works best for you as you continue to play along.




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