13 replies to this topic

[dormouse1976]

Morning (afternoon/evening) all,

Quick question:-

I've come across a piece of practice music where the hi-hat is sticked every eighth note.
The bass drum and hi-hat foot is alternated every quarter note.

Where the hi-hat foot and hi-hat sticking appear at the same time, should this be played as an open hi-hat?

It would seem logical, but ...

Thanks,

[melteddrummer]

you sure it's not the ride your supposed to hitting, and it's just a stepped hi-hat on 2 and 4?

[melteddrummer]

I was just thinking, if it was all on the hi-hats it would be a kind of disco beat with the hi-hat open on the +'s would it not? presuming your bass drums are on 1 and 3 that is.

[dormouse1976]

Here is the piece in question.

If you look at bars 11 - 14. At no point does it show whether to be played with hi-hat or ride, where in other places in the book the same note is differentiated with either H.H. or R.C.

Rambo Mambo

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[melteddrummer]

To me it looks like it's played on the ride, could be wrong though. The only other way to tell is if the 'x' of the cymbal is through the line or on top of the line.

[carox]

My opinion - fwiw - is, no it shouldn't be played as an open hi hat. Where you have notation for "hi hat foot", I believe that means it's closed on the beat ie you'd be hitting the hi hat at the same time as closing it. Notation for an open hi hat generally means you hit it as you open it, and then you get appropriate notation for where to close it.

I just tried this on my kit. You do get a slightly different sound hitting the hi hat as you close it, but not a lot. Seems a bit pointless but if as you say this is a practice piece, then presumably it's for independence/co-ordination purposes and it's not really focussed on the sound/musical value ?

Only my 2p worth.

[dormouse1976]

Thanks Carox, makes sense. )

[carox]

Well, you've actually helped me twice now dormouse, so thank you too!

[xymbalreborn]

It's a practice piece. Just go R hand on ride. Hi-hat open has a "o" over the note and hi-hat closed has a "+" over the note.

[Nate Brown]

I agree with Carox. It shouldn't be played open. An open hi hat is specifically notated with a circle above the note or the notehead itself with a circle around it.

As for the ride cymbal, the line the x is on is dedicated to the hi hat usually. However, different books use different notation methods. It's possible that it could be the ride cymbal. You'd have to find a notation key in the book.

Great responses above, by the way. I enjoy the discussion and seeing people (including me) think about drum notation. The more we discuss and think, the better we become!