Don't make these hi hat mistakes!
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- Опубліковано 18 лют 2024
- Hi-hat clutches get abused and overlooked all the time. Make yours work right and work for you - resulting in better playing and better music! Improve your hi-hat setup, assembly, and technique. It's easier than you think. #drums #drumming
I just realized this a couple of days ago-I've always had the bottom lock loose, and now I'm a happy drummer playing with accents.
Yes! It seems like such a small thing, but it can make a HUGE difference.
After using multiple brands of clothes, I’ve found that the biggest problem is vibrations leading to the bottom nut loosening, which allows the locking nuts to vibrate loose. I’ve had clothes come apart during gigs (not often, but when you’re playing to large crowds, embarrassing and annoying). I’ve found it happens more frequently when keeping the cymbals in a partially closed position ( still get the chick, but with more volume for less effort). Best solution I’ve found is using a drop clutch, specifically by Gibraltar hardware. There is a 45 degree threaded hole in the bottom nut that holds a drum bolt (short bolt with a square head that fits a drum key). Once you have the bottom nut tightened, you lock it in place with a drum key. The top cymbal rests on the bottom, and you add an upper piece which has a hook which catches a beveled edge on the top of the main spindle. This top piece is lowered down so that the hook engages the bevel, and you tighten it the usual way. Push down on pedal to your open hat playing height, and it works like a normal clutch, however, there is a large lever on the top piece which you can hit with your drumsticks while playing, and it releases the hook from the bevel. Now you have a loosely closed hi hat. It never vibrates loose, and can free up your hi hat foot for a double base drum pedal, Cajun or Cabasa pedal, or to give that leg a short rest.
Clutches, not clothes. Sorry for the typo.
Yeah! I've used a drop clutch a few times, and they are great. Solves multiple common problems, as you mentioned. Thanks for the great comment!
An extra tip to avoid metal to metal contact in that area where the edge of that hole rides up against the clutch is that I wrap 2 - 3 or more loops of electrical tape depending on the cymbal hole and or the width of the clutch----> you guesstimate it. Just make sure that the tape is centered, layered right over itself, and make sure that your top cymbal is still able to slosh around due to the tape prior to the cymbal being tightened down onto the clutch.
This is an excellent idea. Thank you!
@@CommonSenseMusician No thank you!
I've just also been wondering about this idea!
There is this annoying problem where you need two different types of clutches, one with a larger diameter hole and one with a smaller. Because some companies like Tama, Yamaha,... like to make hihat stands with thin rods and others like Pearl, Gibraltar,... prefer it thick.
The design of the thinner hihat clutches actually eliminate the need for this electrical tape idea because they can fit a rather thick plastic surround and still have room for the hihat to move. I know Tama clutches come standart with this plastic or rubber-like surround, don't know for the rest like Yamaha,...
This is actually such an important feature to not suffer from keyholing especially with expensive cymbals. And it's strange that other big companies haven't followed yet on this no-brainer improvement...
@@PL-oc7vn I learned something today as to the different thicknesses of hi-hat clutches that are available.
I've noticed that even on the same brand of hardware, the "cheaper" version with the thinner rod, and the "pro" version with the thicker rod. It's super annoying if you want to switch the top cymbal. Thanks for the comment!
Thank you! I struggle with wanting top hat tight for certain types of music, loose for others. Worse, even wanting both for playing different parts of the same song.
An easily adjustable hi-hat clutch is a great product idea!
Bringing 1 or 2 hi-hat clutches to every gig.. it's a smart idea especially if you are playing heavier music.. I met a new bass player at a rehearsal who warned me of a house kit with no clutch (yep) after the show, I handed him a clutch and said, "one day this will make you a hero".. I also know a venue that keeps the clutch behind the bar so it don't go walkin! I work construction too and unfortunately I need extra bits, blades, drills, fittings, gloves, goggles and fasteners... theres no driving to a music store at 12:00 midnight between sets... thanks for the vid! Enjoy life 😊
Such a great tip. Reminds me of the saying, “Two is one, and one is none.” Thanks for stopping by!
Nice vid. Good for beginners or non-mechanical types. It goes without saying though, that this particular clutch is the basic low-end model. There are others that do a better job for sure. Personally, I use the Axis clutch. I can adjust the tilt of the top cymbal as well with this one.
Yes. Definitely some more sophisticated options, for sure.That Axis clutch is a GREAT choice. Thanks for stopping by!
Would have never figured this out on my own. You are a freaking genius. You must be an engineer…
Man....my sarcasm filter isn't great online. So! If you were being sarcastic: Yeah, I'm captain obvious. I know! If you were being serious: It's amazing how often things that might seem obvious or self-explanatory can be difficult to figure out. But once you know, you know.
Either way, thank you for stopping by.
My 50 year old Slingerland has a hex rod, has never unscrewed, set it and done.
That's great gear. Nice!
Been playing drums for 26+ years and always use the sandwich technique with the 2 nuts.. never messed a hat cymbal or thread on the clutch up.. was bought a new “ROCK” high hat stand in the year 1999- still use it today.. I don’t plan on switching now-> to each their own!!
Absolutely! If it ain’t broke…
This is a great video for those entering the drumming world. Although this has never been an issue for me (guess I was just lucky), I do recommend one more common sense step. I'm a right-handed drummer, so I have the locking wing-bolt on the left side of the rod so that I don't hit it with a drum stick. Tightening or loosening is done with the left hand. No problem!
Ah! I wish I'd thought of that. Thank you!
Yeah, I don't have to let go of the drumstick to tighten/adjust the height of the top cymbal.
Likewise, the tilt adjusting screw (that's what I call it) is also adjusted by the left hand, so everything is consistent while setting up for the gig. It only takes a few seconds.
The slack (or gap) in the clutch rarely gets changed unless I change the felts.@@CommonSenseMusician
It’s the little things that make a huge difference in the long run. Once you get it how you like it, then you can just play and everything feels great.
Another thing I do is to mark the settings of my stands and holders with memory locks, electrical tape or Sharpie marks. The audience can't see them and they enable me to set up my entire kit in less than 10 minutes after unzipping my bags. This may not seem important but it reduces anxiety before playing and makes it so much easier to repack when I'm tired and want to go home. Yeah, it's the little things.@@CommonSenseMusician
Sharpie is brilliant. I'm definitely stealing that idea.@@boomerguy9935
We've all seen that missing bottom (house kits, studios etc...)🤣 One thing I see A LOT in studios is "Spare" locking nuts from clutches being used as washers on cymbal stands, mic stands, rack tom mounts etc... it goes on and on !
So many house kits are a study in how not to treat your gear! It's usually worth a good laugh, though!
@@CommonSenseMusician over tightening is the cause of most problems on these kits… people using sticks as a wrench etc… 😭
Ugh. Absolutely! I had a snare drum stand tonight that wouldn't tighten at all, so I played the whole set at the lowest height and it rotated around the whole time. Awesome!
Not gonna lie, I dont see any mechanical reason for the second nut to be on top - the main problem is the bottom nut falling, not the top - while still maintaining the ability to regulate the tightness.
It might've been originally for that purpose, but it makes no real mechanical sense to have a "locking" mechanism when theres no problem of movement in the first place. If theres any place that needs locking, it's the bottom nut imo. I've gotten way more use out of the double bottom - realizing after a whole set that my bottom nut fell off and my second nut kept my hi hat working.
experiences may vary, sound wise it doesnt really make that big of a difference, you just adjust it accordingly.
Totally agree. It's overkill for most players. A lot of clutches now come with a locking bottom nut, which I appreciate, but rarely actually use.
Thanks for the comment!
" I dont see any mechanical reason for the second nut to be on top" like he said its a lock nut, it keep the top 2 nut where you lock them, if it was a single nut through vibrating it can loosen.
i like double bottom single top too!
Nah, it needs to be there in many cases. I understand why one might think that though.. I've played at least 100 ihat clutches and without the second nut it will loosed almost every song. I always bring 1 or 2 to every gig. the second is a lock nut to lock the 1st in place.. if you build things regularly you know how important lock nuts are and if you don't just play lightly you know.. happy drumming ppl 🥁
@@krusher74agreed
I hate my current hi hat stand and the cymbals but it gets by for now - not many great examples come up on the used market people hold onto the good hi hats - as you demonstrate these variables are key to know.. they make my crappy hi-hats bearable when set up properly or to my 'sound' I want.
Good luck with it. Finding good gear on the cheap can take a lot of patience!
Underrated video very good info for new drummers
Many thanks.
Come on drummers you should know this by now!
Exactly why I made a video - I see it all the time! Thanks for stopping by!
Nice video man! I subscribed
Thanks for the sub! I appreciate it!
the last part you say is wrong.
Isn't.
Cause you can use the 2nd tightening screw from the top,
as the bottom safety incase the main clutch lock ever gets loose while playing.
Which i have experienced on stage provided kits that aren't taken care of.
That's a fair point, and certainly works in a pinch. I was referring to the ideal case, and house kits are rarely ideal! Thanks for stopping by!
Could you give your opinion on high hat angle please?
Absolutely. Working on a short video to cover this question. Thanks for asking!
I just uploaded a video that addresses this issue. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/video/Qd5nMgV6q5Y/v-deo.html&ab_channel=CommonSenseMusician
Lukita!!
Thanks for stopping by!
You look jason newsteddy
I’ll take it!
@@keithpercussion 😎 👍
My biggest problem over the years has been over tightening the top that holds the clutch to the rod. Trying my best not to do that. Thanks! 🥁❤️
Literally the best compliment I've ever received. Thank you.
wooow , jodeeeeer
Thanks for stopping by!
hahaha there is a company who makes a clutch that is perfect and never changes how you set it but as the price of drums have gone through the roof and will keep that name to myself.
YES. Prices are pretty amazing right now, and not in a good way. Thanks for stopping by!
Tell the people!!
It surprises me that a tutorial video needs to be made on this subject. If you can’t figure this out, maybe you shouldn’t be trying to play drums. Sorry but stupidity rules the internet
When I first started teaching drums, I'd been playing for over 10 years. It absolutely blew my mind how many things students did "wrong" that seemed super obvious to me. I've now been teaching for a long time, and in my experience, people just need to be taught. Sometimes they don't even know there's a problem, other times they just don't have enough experience to figure out the solution. Almost every video on my channel (at this point) is inspired by something I've seen my students do over and over. So now I can just send them a video link and say, "You'll get this. See you next time!" So, yeah, it doesn't seem like a video needed to be made, but for some people it might just help. Thanks for stopping by!