Hi Hat bouncing and coming a part the faster I play.

Hannahsketchbook

Hannahsketchbook

Active Member
Hi all! I’ve had hi hat issues on and off since I got my kit. Whenever I get to 8th notes at 100 bpm, it starts getting springing and the cymbals spread apart. I feel like I’ve adjusted everything but I can’t seem to get it to stick. It always ends up back here every couple weeks. Suggestions welcome please! It’s impacting what I can practice :( I think I may have to take it in to my instructor since I had no idea what I’m doing. 😂

Thank you!
 
Hannahsketchbook said:
Hi all! I’ve had hi hat issues on and off since I got my kit. Whenever I get to 8th notes at 100 bpm, it starts getting springing and the cymbals spread apart. I feel like I’ve adjusted everything but I can’t seem to get it to stick. It always ends up back here every couple weeks. Suggestions welcome please! It’s impacting what I can practice :( I think I may have to take it in to my instructor since I had no idea what I’m doing. 😂

Thank you!
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I think I know what you mean this can happen if the bottom hat is tilted get the bottom hat parallel to the top hat and also don't have your top hat to loose.
 
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I'm probably doing things all wrong, but I have my top hat tight and my bottom hat tilted a lot, but loosey-goosey with almost an inch between them when at rest. I've *always* got my foot on the hat pedal and use it to control the top hat. I can adjust my chicks, barks, make it sizzle and even crash the top hat with this setup. I've also got a drop clutch for when I don't want to mess with the pedal, but seldom use it. A drop clutch will definitely keep the top hat firmly planted on the bottom. They're cheap too!
 
Smoke said:
I'm probably doing things all wrong, but I have my top hat tight and my bottom hat tilted a lot, but loosey-goosey with almost an inch between them when at rest. I've *always* got my foot on the hat pedal and use it to control the top hat. I can adjust my chicks, barks, make it sizzle and even crash the top hat with this setup. I've also got a drop clutch for when I don't want to mess with the pedal, but seldom use it. A drop clutch will definitely keep the top hat firmly planted on the bottom. They're cheap too!
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Man there is no wrong in that play them the way best for you mate mine are tilted and also pretty loose everyone to the own mate Cheers.
 
I'm not clear on what the OP is having a problem with. If I had to guess, it seems like the hats at some point will not completely close with the "normal" foot pressure. If that is the case, it suggests to me a slipping clutch and a heavy left foot that are the two causes. The heavy foot shouldn't be a concern if the clutch is not slipping.

If this is the case, set up your hats as normal and then use a sharpie marker to mark the rod just above the top of the clutch. Play it until "it starts getting springing and the cymbals spread apart". Then have a look at your mark. That will tell you if the clutch is slipping on the rod. If so buy a better clutch.
 
Square said:
I'm not clear on what the OP is having a problem with. If I had to guess, it seems like the hats at some point will not completely close with the "normal" foot pressure. If that is the case, it suggests to me a slipping clutch and a heavy left foot that are the two causes. The heavy foot shouldn't be a concern if the clutch is not slipping.

If this is the case, set up your hats as normal and then use a sharpie marker to mark the rod just above the top of the clutch. Play it until "it starts getting springing and the cymbals spread apart". Then have a look at your mark. That will tell you if the clutch is slipping on the rod. If so buy a better clutch.
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Yes I think I may have to replace some parts. Something is slipping. I get them all set up and right and then if I speed up too fast they start springing apart banging together. 😒
 
Hannahsketchbook said:
Yes I think I may have to replace some parts. Something is slipping. I get them all set up and right and then if I speed up too fast they start springing apart banging together. 😒
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Yeah...if I'm reading right, it sounds like the hi-hat clutch is slipping up the rod?

If so, I wonder if you have another clutch you can try?

Or maybe place a small hose clamp on the rod, above the clutch, so it doesn't slip?
 
What kind of hi hat stand is this? Is it a major brand like Yamaha or DW? It sounds like a clutch issue because the rod itself is screwed in so there’s no play there. So maybe the clutch is broken? But if you have some no-name cheap hi hat stand, maybe this would be a good opportunity to upgrade to a proven name brand?
 
Hannahsketchbook said:
Hi all! I’ve had hi hat issues on and off since I got my kit. Whenever I get to 8th notes at 100 bpm, it starts getting springing and the cymbals spread apart. I feel like I’ve adjusted everything but I can’t seem to get it to stick. It always ends up back here every couple weeks. Suggestions welcome please! It’s impacting what I can practice :( I think I may have to take it in to my instructor since I had no idea what I’m doing. 😂

Thank you!
Click to expand...

It's kinda hard to imagine what it might be. Can you upload some pics of the stand and clutch? Think it will be easier for us to see it
 
Hannahsketchbook said:
Hi all! I’ve had hi hat issues on and off since I got my kit. Whenever I get to 8th notes at 100 bpm, it starts getting springing and the cymbals spread apart. I feel like I’ve adjusted everything but I can’t seem to get it to stick. It always ends up back here every couple weeks. Suggestions welcome please! It’s impacting what I can practice :( I think I may have to take it in to my instructor since I had no idea what I’m doing. 😂

Thank you!
Click to expand...
if your top hat has only one nut (the one that holds it to the clutch part) get a second nut and place it right below the one holding your cymbal. Adjust your top cymbal to your liking (some people like really loose top cymbals some like me like them less loose) then use the second nut to tighten the top, that way you will not have to adjust your hats every other song. You do still have to adjust every so often but this will reduce the times by a lot. Now if the issue is your clutch not holding onto the rod... then maybe need to get a better clutch.

This one has two nuts and the red nut you can use one to hold the felt at the top, then place your cymbal between the two felts, place the red nut and then place the other chrome nut below the red, this will prevent the red nut from coming undone.


The second one is called a drop clutch which is what I use because I want to be able to play double bass while at the same time playing the closed hats. You can adjust that too.

 
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