The Best Hi-Hats for Every Genre: Jazz, Hip Hop, Rock, Funk & More
In this guide, we break down hi-hats by genre: jazz, hip hop/drum n bass, rock/metal, and pop/funk, so you can find the perfect match for your playing style and sound.
I recall being 14 years old and attending a rehearsal at a friend's garage. Our band had a new bass player I hadn't met before. He was a few years older and more experienced than the rest of us.
When he turned up, he took one look at my drum kit and said, "Your hi hats are wrong". I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. I said, "I haven't played a note yet, how can my hi hats be wrong?". He explained, "They are small jazz hi hats, we are playing rock music". Ok, that made sense.
Currently, there are countless sizes, brands, and series of hi hats. In this article, I want to talk about which hi-hats work best depending on the style of music you’re playing.
Jazz music
For the most part, jazz music isn't predominantly loud. That's why it makes sense to have smaller-sized hi hats. They fit the music better and will not overpower an acoustic piano or upright bass guitar.
The other thing I should mention is what the words 'dark' and 'dry' mean when it comes to hi hats. Essentially, it means they are not overly loud. They won't interfere sonically in the high register, which a guitar solo may be in.
Istanbul Agop 13' Xist Dry Dark Hi-Hat see price
These 13-inch Agop Dark Dry hi hats are perfect for jazz.
Istanbul Mehmet 13' Hi-Hat Sultan Series see price
These Istanbul cymbals have an interesting finish that lets you switch from 'dark' to 'light'. The surface of the hi hat changes to give your sound more depth.
Zildjian 13' K-Series/A Dyno Beat HH see price
Zildjian is synonymous with being high-end for a simple reason: they always sound great.
These 13-inch 'K' hi hats are no exception. They are 'brighter' sounding than the 2 above models, which give them slightly more volume. This is perfect if you are playing larger venues or are recording with a big band with lots of horns.
Hip Hop/Drum n Bass
A lot of music that is sampled or programmed can be taken from music that has had the tempo altered. When trying to replicate these styles of music in a live setting, it makes sense to have hi-hats that can mimic that high register. This simply makes the music sound more authentic.
If you ever watch drum genius Jojo Mayer play drum n bass music, you will notice his hi-hats are quite small. This is to give him the most accurate sound of that style of music.
Check this clip of him playing drum and bass beats:
Hip Hop requires a funky beat that won't sonically interfere with the rapper's flow.
Schlagwerk 12' Cajon Hi-Hat see price
These hi-hats have an interesting finish and deliver a raw sound perfect for hip hop. They are in the mid-price range but sound like they are high-end.
Zultan 12' Hi-Hat Medium Dark Matter see price
These Zultan hi hats are great for hi hats as they have a long-lasting sustain. The sound is 'dirty' and 'funky' at the same time. They are perfect for live gigs or the studio.
Paiste 12' Signature Combo Crisp Hat see price
These hi-hats are super bright-sounding and are at the top end of the price range. They were developed by drum genius Stewart Copeland from 'The Police'.
Check out Stewart Copleand playing them here:
Rock
If you are playing Rock or Metal music, you want loud-sounding hi-hats. Adding larger-sized hi-hats will only increase the volume of your drum grooves. I'm going to focus on 15-inch hi hats for this section, as I feel they are perfect for both Rock and Metal.
Paiste 2002 Classic 15' Sound Edge HH see price
These Paiste hi hats are a classic staple for Rock Drummers. Check out legendary drummer Nicko McBrain from Iron Maiden using Paiste hi-hats here:
Zildjian 15' A-Series New Beat Hi-Hat see price
These Zildjian hi-hats are great for the simple reason of how bright they are. This means they are naturally loud, which is excellent when you are competing with distorted guitars. They sound great open or closed.
Sabian 15' HHX Complex Medium Hi-Hat see price
These top-of-the-range Sabian hi hats have a great 'sizzle' to them. Great for sloshy aggressive beats. The bell of the hi hat has a different finish, making it able to have multiple tones.
Pop/Funk
14-inch hi hats are standard or considered the norm. If you buy a second-hand drum kit from eBay or Facebook Marketplace, the chances are they are comes with 14-inch hi hats.
They are perfect for pop music and funk music because they are not overly loud and aggressive.
Paiste 14' Signature Dark Energy MK1 see price
These Paiste Hi hats have a warm, funky tone that won't get in the way of the keyboard player or vocalist sonically. They also look great under the stage lights.
Zildjian 14' A-Custom Hi-Hat see price
These Zildjian 'A' customs are super bright-sounding. They were very popular in the 90s and are on a lot of hit records from that era. Well worth the price tag.
Paiste PST7 14' Heavy Hi-Hat see price
If you don't have a massive budget, check out these Paiste hi hats. They sound loud but not too trashy.
Hopefully, this has given you some insight into achieving the best possible sound. I know it's not always easy to get the top-of-the-range equipment, but understanding the different sizes and series of hi-hats can make a big difference to your overall drum sound.
Keep Practising!
About Magesh Magesh
Magesh is a musician and producer who has worked with Rihanna, Lionel Richie, Ricky Martin, Chris Brown, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Nelly Furtado, and Vernon Reid of Living Colour.
He released an instructional drumming DVD called "Unique Beats" where he mixed the drum kit with electronics and Indian hand percussion. He recently moved from Australia to the UK to explore new musical opportunities.
Website: mageshdrumteacher.co.uk
Contact Magesh Magesh at magesh.magesh7@gmail.com
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