Drums & Percussion

Hi-Hat

The little ticking cymbal that fills the space between hits.

1 · Hear it

Listen twice: once alone, once with the band. The second one is how you'll actually hear it in songs.

2 · What it actually is

Two small cymbals facing each other on a stand, opened and closed with a pedal. Closed = tick. Open = sizzle.

Its job

It subdivides the beat, so you can feel the smaller pieces of time.

Listen for

Short, dry, metallic ticks — usually the fastest thing in the beat.

You've heard it in: The fast 'tss-tss-tss' in trap; the steady tick in disco.

3 · Words that go with it