How to Adjust and Set Up Your Hi-Hat Stand (Beginner & Intermediate)

A detailed lesson for beginner and intermediate drummers on how to adjust and set up your hi-hat stand - plus a tip or two that you may not have been shown before. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL for more great free drum lessons, tips, advice and cool product reviews!

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CHECK OUT THESE OTHER RELATED LESSONS
✅SETTING UP YOUR KIT FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE
✅HOW TO ADJUST YOUR KICK PEDAL FOR TOP PERFORMANCE

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[n.ciebevilaqua]

Thank you SO much! I'm a 60-year-old woman who just got her first drum kit (after 40 years of wanting one!). It's basically just a kid's set, so that I could really make sure that it's something I can pursue before buying something more expensive, but I DID decide that it needed a hi-hat (ride cymbal is probably next). I was having a hell of a time making it sound right, and now after your one short video it's been adjusted and sounds great. Now I just need to learn how to play it all properly...

[benwh]

Dude, these vids are epic... it’s like you do the “elephants in the room” topics... I am a hobby drummer that’s self taught... totally get the hi hat now man! Thanks (subscribed)

[Andylove]

English is my second language. I'm learning English as well as drums. The way Bob talks is easy for me to understand. He talks relatively slow in my opinion and that is good for me. Thanks for the post, Rob !

[joshlybecker]

If you lean your bottom hat away from you, rather than towards you, you won't chip n chew ur sticks up as much either. Just another small tip I learned

[michelelittle]

Thank you! I am 60 years old and just got my first kit. I am over the moon with this site. With Covid not too many people are giving personal lessons.

[drummerguyron]

4:08... So that's why I can't get any chicks.. ahhhh.... :D Great vid man..

[dwaynerobertson]

This man is a gift! Every single video - instant improvement..

[barrybebenek]

I’ve been playing for a good 35 years, and I can attest to spending on good hardware. (Or at least the best you can afford). Mine is now DW 9000 and Pearl. You won’t go wrong spending what you can for quality.
Great tips again Rob. Thanks. 👍🏼🇨🇦
Great tips again Rob. 👍🏼

[cecilopez]

Love your videos!!! I am a beginner drummer, and love how detailed and super helpful!!!

[godislove]

I watched it all and I was "good to go" after.

[DerekZane]

a guitarist getting back into drums and I been overloading on different players but I finally subscribed to you cuz of this video! "So THAT'S what that screw under the hi hat is!" Thanks, Rob I'm digging all of your stuff

[louisdimov]

HEY 🥰 THAT'S DA DRUM TECH'S JOB BEFORE U GO ON STAGE!!!!😂

[monstersaint]

Been playin' for 10 years, still did not know the nitty gritty on Hat stands. Now I do. Rob, your vids are awesome and excellent.

[jazzasahel]

Truly a beginner. Nice to have a pro to help me out. Thank you!

[theophany]

I'm a guitarist and new drummer. Just subbed, thanks man!

[deepbluntman___]

Obligatory comment to help the Chanel! 😁👋

[Rockin_Ross]

Great tips! Some things this 30+ year drummer didn’t know. Thanks, Rob.🤘🏻

[tullyliddell]

Thank you sir, setting up my 1st HH in my home studio after about 58 years of playing mostly guitar. Great job, next move is getting a new clutch. Preciate it.

[Goabnb]

Pull rods - can you get shorter ones or is there an adjustment I am missing? I've got my hi-hats on the lower side of the spectrum, and it seems there is miles of rod sitting above it. And I see you and other drummers have only a little more than you need which looks a lot better. Is there an adjustment I am missing to change this or is it fixed like this?

[channelindierock]

Having professionals like Rob on YouTube is such a leap forward for drumming education. For most of my life, I had to find information about drumming techniques by listening to my teacher, trying to interpret images from drum education books, watching drummers playing on Tv and live, and finally saving up questions for when I visited the local drum store. Now you can browse the Internet and get direct access to excellent and varied audio-visual lessons made by some of the best.
Position of accessories on your kit and ergonomics. (sorry it's a long comment but I think it is useful)
I just want to add body mechanics to this great advice. It will save serious wear and tear on your back and joints if you want to play for 50-60yrs. I know because of the damage and pain I have from incidents related to being a musician.
• Why not play on like Charlie Watts who layed down beats till he was 80yrs. RIP Charlie Watts - The Rolling Stones•
Anyway, I have been playing drums for almost 49 yrs and have found with hi-hat position that the degree the hats are locked open by the clutch affects your timing and if the gapping and placement of the hats are not comfortable you can tend to have sloppy timing. I discovered that I was exerting more energy with my left foot (for most of us right-handers) to close the hats while my right foot was laying down the bass pedal rhythm if my hats were not adjusted and positioned comfortably with good claws or a small sandbag to stop them slipping during a gig, recording and practice sessions. Once I found the best position I marked kit layout spots on my drum rug and little paint marks on my accessories sort of like the memory locks that exist now. ( If you are playing a gig you may want a lightweight carpet similar to the lining used on a car floor to place on stage with all your drum kit positions marked out. (then if your lucky someone else can set your kit up exactly as you like it)
It's like having two glasses of water filled with the same amount of fluid. The right leg beats the bass drum while the left leg controls the hat. For example, emptying the glass (relaxing the muscles) is when the hat opens and refilling the glass to the same amount means the leg/ankle/foot muscles are engaged to close the hat. Of course, there will be variables with emphasis on bass beats or tap slapping the hats to achieve a longer opening ring of the top hat cymbal. Then there is the heal-to-toe variation on pedals. (probably a subject for intermediate drummers to investigate)
By getting some even equal pressure on the left and right leg muscles you can play smooth and reduce tiring your leg and losing time. (Think about it if you are playing two 1/14hr sets a night with 40 mins between sets. It is tiring)
Finally, your body height, leg and arm leg length will have to determine where you seat your hats in relation to the snare for comfort. I am 6ft. 1 and raise my seat so the belly area is in line with the snare rim. Mind you that belly of mine has dropped a bit over 60yrs.😅
Consider keeping the snare almost horizontal for consistent drumstick contact (i.e. velocity) and for playing rim shots and especially different beats like Afro-Cuban beats like rhumba and Cha-Cha rim-snare patterns. Do your research and see what the experts say.
I find after studying many drummer's approaches that this seems to be a pretty good guide. It protects your back from serious strain over the years. Finally, don't forget to work on developing equal strength in both feet as you are with both hands. Rock and drum on ladies and gents and watch all of Rob's video tutorials because they are
great. BTW, Rob is spot on about cheap Hi-Hat clutches and the same for slipping cheap pedals both bass and hi-hat. Plus watch his hi-Hat development video.