Rock Songs with Great Hi-Hat Work?

[bassanddrum84]

Anything Stewart Copeland does. Todd sucherman live has some killer hat playing.

 

[daveplaydrum]

When I switched to 16s it made me want to do less hi hat work. They sounded great but it was more work physically and harder to get a quick articulate sound out of them

 

[Wxmaggot]

 

[SKSMITH]

Anything with George Hurley by the Minutemen or fIREHOSE.

 

[moonbabie]

how about this mind blowing 9/8 groove...

with the late great Allen Holdsworth on guitar

 

[Tornado]

Will Calhoun puts on a hihat master class in this tune:

 

[RogersLudwig]

Pete Townsend, Ronnie Laine, Charlie Watts

 

[moonbabie]

how about this mind blowing 9/8 groove...

with the late great Allen Holdsworth on guitar

sorry this is more like jazz fusion...but it’s the first thing that came to mind.

 

[JayHornez]

Barracuda by Heart. I've always loved how the hats sing on this track. Nothing superfluous about it. And the hi hat barks in the prechorus/chorus are so tasty. Great example of the power of simplicity.

 

[Jay-Dee]

Will Calhoun puts on a hihat master class in this tune:

I forgot about that one, a killer snare drum sound masterclass as well.

 

[supershifter2]

This song loves lottsa hihat up and down pedal. i know !

 

[supershifter2]

What a heartless ....... ! this song loves lottsa up and down hihat pedal

 

[supershifter2]

I play to some weird songs dont i ! Thats Tommy Aldridge on the dromes !

 

[vintagedrummersweden]

I know I always bring up Tommy Ramone as a good example of dynamics in a band, and to some it may be a bit of a contradiction since the Ramones was quite a wall of sound.
But listen to this live clip and try to concentrate on Tommys hi-hat work (and the cymbals) - it really is what gives a good song all the dynamics, in spite of the massive sound.

 

[langmick]

This one threw me the first time I tried to learn it. Crunchy sound edges.

You need to listen for it, he's subtle, the splashes keep the groove flowing, love those small things. An the fills are out there, but punchy and confident. One of the greatest drum tracks.

Richie was up there with Stewart playing some super tasty hats with a original twist. Maybe the first X-hat grove to get notice...

This came to mind listening to that Little Feat track.

 

[boomstick]

When I switched to 16s it made me want to do less hi hat work. They sounded great but it was more work physically and harder to get a quick articulate sound out of them

I was thinking about this. Haven't used 16's, but I imagine there would be a lot of "slop" compared to smaller sizes, so intricate patterns might be tough. I know Stewart Copeland used 13's with The Police. Maybe the thing to do is crash them with your foot a lot? Mounting a tambourine with them might sound cool too.

 

[CigarScott]

Perfect Symmetry to A Pleasant Shade of Gray era of Fates Warning has great hi-hat work by Mark Zonder. I love the sound of his 12" hats.

 

[Vistalite Black]

Thanks, Guys. I’m already enjoying my sizzling, slurping playlist. Keep the recommendations coming.

 

[studrum]

Tony Thompson's work on The Power Station debut album. Examples:

Of course, their version of "Bang a Gong."

 

[studrum]

Narada Michael Walden on Led Boots

Of course there’s the usual suspects Ian Paice on Smoke on the Water, and Theme from Shaft...

A Beck-ish addition: intro to "Got the Feelin'" on Rough and Ready, and throughout. Cozy Powell!