How To Set Up A Hi Hat Stand

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Hi-hats are two cymbals attached to a stand and human foot pedal that yous can utilize to add together a variety of sounds when you're playing drums. While they can exist tricky to master and play well, there are many ways you can accommodate your stand to go the all-time sound. Choosing the right height for your cymbals lets you play comfortably then you don't accidentally hit something else. You lot can besides adjust the gap betwixt the cymbals and how they're angled to change how they sound when y'all hit them. If the pedal feels likewise loose or tight, you can likewise change the tension so it's easier for yous to play.

1
Back up the bottom cymbal with your nondominant hand. Leave your cymbals on the stand while you're working. Grab the center tube of the stand only underneath the bottom cymbal on your stand. Go along your hand pressed against the cymbal so information technology doesn't drop or go damaged when you alter the stand's height.^[1]
- Y'all can merely adjust the height of the stand's upper tube, which is the department that holds the cymbals. The lesser half of the stand has a set height.
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Turn the adjustment knob counterclockwise to loosen it. Expect for a silver wingnut or knob in the middle of the stand up'southward main tube. Turn the knob counterclockwise until it's loose, but exit it attached to the stand so information technology's easier to tighten once more. You can now raise or lower upper tube of the stand.
- If the stand up doesn't take a wingnut, it will commonly take screws with square heads. Loosen the screws with a drum key, which is a wingnut-shaped tool used on drum hardware and comes with virtually kits. Otherwise, y'all tin can buy them from your local music supply store.
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Fix the cymbals and then they're at a comfortable tiptop. Employ your nondominant hand to raise or lower the cymbals on the stand. You lot don't have to employ an exact measurement, but choose a height that feels comfy for yous when y'all play. Make sure there's enough room between your snare drum and hi-hats and then y'all don't hit your sticks together while you lot're playing. Avert making your cymbal stand too tall, or else y'all'll strain when you want to play them.^[2]
- Your stand may have a stop-lock, which is a metal band effectually the upper tube that prevents the cymbals from falling all the way down. If the stop-lock prevents you from lowering the cymbals, loosen information technology with your drum key showtime.
- Pay attention to any other cymbals or drums you have around your hi-hat to make certain they don't hit or bump into your hullo-hats if you lot play them. You lot may need to move them in social club to play your kit.
Tip: Typically, the about comfortable top for hi-hats are 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) above your snare pulsate. For a quick measurement, make a fist with your dominant mitt. Then extend your thumb and pinkie straight out. Affect the top of your snare drum with your pinkie so your thumb points straight up, and gear up your bottom cymbal and so it's level with your thumb tip.^[3]
four
Tighten the adjustment knob to lock the cymbal in identify. Concur the cymbals at the pinnacle you desire them with your nondominant hand and screw the knob clockwise to secure information technology in place. Terminate screwing in the knob when you lot feel tension and so you don't stress or impairment the stand while you're playing.^[4]
- If you lot loosened a stop-lock on your stand, keep it pressed confronting the tiptop of the aligning knob and tighten information technology with your drum key.
- If the top still doesn't feel comfortable, loosen the knob again and fine-tune your adjustment.
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Unscrew the aligning knob in a higher place the upper hi-hat cymbal. Expect for the upper cymbal'southward clutch, which is the metal and felt piece with a knob at the top of your hi-hat stand that holds it in place. Hold the cymbal or clutch with your nondominant mitt equally you lot plough the knob counterclockwise. The upper hello-lid volition loosen and then you can raise or lower information technology.^[5]
- Be conscientious not to allow the cymbal drib downwardly, or else it could get damaged.
2
Lift the top cymbal 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) to utilise information technology as a crash cymbal. Concord the top cymbal by the clutch and heighten information technology higher on the tube. Leave near i–ii inches (2.5–5.i cm) between the rims of the top and bottom cymbal so they don't touch one some other. That way, you tin can striking the top cymbal to make a loud crash or press down on the pedal to bring the cymbals together to make a splashing dissonance.^[six]
- Keeping your hi-hat cymbals separated works well if y'all don't have a lot of other cymbals or if you want to play genres like jazz, swing, or rock.
3
Heighten the pinnacle cymbal ¹⁄_iv in (0.64 cm) for a more controlled sound. Lift the clutch so the height cymbal separates from the bottom one. Only leave most ¹⁄_iv inch (0.64 cm) of infinite between the cymbals so they're still close together. This volition help them produce a "chick" noise that's more muted.^[7]
- Keeping your cymbals close together works well if you don't go along your foot on the stand's pedal while you're playing, like if yous use a double bass pedal.
Variation: Yous can also adjust the cymbal by pressing downwardly on stand's human foot pedal and measuring how far downwards the upper tube moves. When it moves the aforementioned distance as your desired gap size, go on your foot however so the tube doesn't move anymore.
iv
Spiral the adjustment knob tight to secure the top cymbal clutch. Hold the acme cymbal at the meridian y'all desire with your nondominant hand. Tighten the adjustment knob on the cymbal's clutch by turning it clockwise. In one case you lot feel tension from turning the knob, stop tightening it and so you don't damage the cymbals.
- Make sure the knob is completely tight, or your top cymbal may drop down if it comes loose while you're playing.
v
Tighten the tiptop cymbal felt if you want your cymbals to make a "chick" sound. Look for a minor dial or knob just above the circular felt piece on top of the cymbal. Turn the knob clockwise so the felt presses firmly against the cymbal so it doesn't move around. That way, the cymbals won't splash when you hit them and will make a shorter, staccato "chick" dissonance.^[8]
- Avert overtightening the cymbals or hitting them with a lot of strength since y'all can cause them to scissure or develop stress fractures. Cease every bit shortly every bit you feel tension.
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Loosen the felt if you want the cymbals to slosh together more. If you prefer a more open, loose sound when you hit your hi-hats, turn the knob above the felt counterclockwise instead. This allows the top and bottom cymbal to repeatedly hit each other so they make a shimmering, splashing audio when yous hitting them.^[nine]
- Information technology may be difficult for you to control the sound quality of cymbals that are as well loose.
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i
Locate the cup adjustment knob underneath the lower cymbal. Await for the circular plastic piece supporting the bottom howdy-hat cymbal, which is known as the cup. Cheque the side of the cup for a metallic screw or knob used to change the cymbal's angle. If you tin can't find the knob, and so you may not be able to adjust your cymbal'south angle.
- Sometimes, the spiral or knob may exist missing from the loving cup, and then check the stand up's manual to come across if yours has one. You tin can ordinarily buy replacement knobs online or from your local music supply store.
2
Tighten the knob to angle the bottom cymbal so it has a fuller splash audio. Turn the knob clockwise by hand so the bottom howdy-chapeau cymbal tilts at an bending. Keep tilting the bottom cymbal so the dorsum half of its rim is either touching the superlative cymbal or is ⁱ⁄₄ inch (0.64 cm) away. That fashion, the cymbals volition make a louder and more distinct splashing audio when you lot striking them together.^[x]
- Information technology's normal for the top cymbal to stay parallel with the floor when you brand your adjustment.
Did You Know?

Fishing the bottom hello-hat prevents "air lock," which is when air gets trapped and pressurized between the cymbals and makes them difficult to split.
3
Loosen the knob for a straighter cymbal and muted sound. Loosen the knob by turning it counterclockwise, but don't unscrew it and so much that it comes off of the stand. Accommodate the lesser cymbal until information technology'south rim is near parallel with the floor. Test pressing down on the human foot pedal to hear the more muffled sound it produces.^[11]
- Avoid keeping the cymbals perfectly parallel with one another, or else they could go stuck together when you use your foot pedal.
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1
Locate the bound tension dial nearly the stand up's legs. The spring tension affects how hard you need to press down on the pedal to bring the ii cymbals together. Look for a circular plastic dial that wraps around the lesser of your stand underneath the legs. Typically, information technology will have notches or grips so it'southward easier for you to turn past hand.
- Your cymbal stand may not have a bound tension dial, so you will not be able to change information technology.
2
Turn the punch clockwise if you desire the spring to feel looser. Grab the dial and slowly turn it clockwise until you hear it click into the adjacent setting. Attempt using your foot pedal to run into how far y'all need to press information technology downward for the cymbals to touch on. Loosen the leap tension if you want to press the pedal downwardly further.
- Compare the angles of the howdy-hat and bass drum pedals when you press them down. You'll usually want them to take the same angle so it'south easier for you to play.
3

Rotate the dial counterclockwise to get in easier to shut the cymbals. Catch the dial and advisedly adjust it counterclockwise. Every bit you tighten the tension, you won't have to press the pedal as far down to splash the cymbals together. That fashion, y'all can quickly keep time or switch between open and closed playing styles.

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1
Swivel the stand's legs so they're out of the way while you lot're playing. Look for the wingnut where the legs connect to the stand's primary tube. Plow the wingnut counterclockwise to loosen it. Position the legs so you accept room to movement your foot effectually without bumping them. When you're happy with the position, tighten the wingnut to lock it in place.
- Examination playing your hi-hats after changing the legs' positions since the stand could become stable.
2
Turn the pedal's aligning ring to change its angle. Look for a square-shaped commodities on the dorsum of the pedal where it connects to the lesser of the stand up or chain. Loosen the commodities with a drum key and so you can change the pedal's angle. Look for the silverish adjustment band above the commodities and turn information technology clockwise to raise the front of the pedal. If you lot desire the pedal lower, turn the band counterclockwise. Tighten the bolt when you're happy with the angle.
- Check that the horizontal pivot bolts in a higher place and below the aligning ring are parallel before playing your cymbals.
- Try to keep the how-do-you-do-lid pedal the same angle as your bass drum pedal so it's more comfy for you to play.
3
Rearrange the pedal's traction dots if your pes slips around. Look for the screws on the pedal's faceplate and loosen them with an Allen wrench. Have the faceplate off and remove or rearrange the dots yet yous want. If your foot slips around a lot, put the traction dots in every hole. Otherwise, you tin remove them if you lot want to make it easier to switch between pedals. Whenever y'all're finished, spiral the faceplate back on.
- Pedal traction is all personal preference, so arrange the dots to whatever feels all-time for your playing style.
- Not every pedal volition have adjustable traction dots.
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Yous may need to suit your cymbal stand frequently if you lot frequently switch between playing dissimilar genres of music.
Salve the teaching manual for your drum kit and cymbal stands so yous have them as reference if you need them afterwards on.
You tin can utilize these adjustments on well-nigh brands of hello-hat stands, just always consult your stand up's transmission to see if there are dissimilar instructions.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

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End tightening hardware if you feel tension on information technology and then you don't impairment the cymbals or the stands.

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