Slushy Hat Tricks

• By Tom Brechtlein
• Originally Published In The March/April 1999 Issue Of DRUM! Magazine

I don’t know when you guys are going to read this, but Happy New Year anyway. (This article is being written on January 3.) Well, I was working out in my drum room over the holidays, messing around with a few things, and I came up with some ideas using an open hi-hat that are pretty fun to play. These examples may seem hard to play at first, but just take them slowly and they’ll get harder and you’ll want to curse me out for writing them!

Just kidding! Take it slowly at first. Work on it until you feel comfortable. Then go to a slightly faster tempo and practice at that tempo until you feel comfortable.

Ex. 1 is played just using the hi-hat. Ex. 2 uses the ride cymbal with the right hand along with the left foot and the left hand playing the hi-hat. Ex. 3 uses open hi-hat played with the right hand and left foot.