I have been experimenting with my hihat sound. I cannot decide what sounds better the shaft of the stick hitting the edge or playing with the bead of the stick. I play rock/ alternative and of course depending on the mix is how I play them. But what technique is everybody using?

I tend to play with the bead on top (though near the edge).   Gives me a more articulate sound and allows rolls and things.   But if the song calls for it, Ill lay into 'em on the edge with the shoulder.  Totally different sounds, its like asking if you play the ride or hats.   Hopefully you do both depending on what you need.  

If you want a bigger washier sound, but still want the articulation of playing on top, experiment with different hats.   Big thin hats can get washy fast even when your playing on top with the bead.  You just have to work the pedal right.

Playing the hi hat is a blend of both.  Certain music sounds better with the bead on the top, some with the meaty part of the stick attacking the side.  You shouldn't limit yourself to one exclusively.

Ever try playing the bell of the hi-hat?  It's a nice, clunky sound when closed†.  

When played open, it's a nice punctuation in the middle of a phrase.


†It's used to great effect on Kid Charlemagne by Steely Dan; although it seems that Bernard Purdie intended to aim for the bow of the hat rather than the bell throughout the passage, it sounds great nonetheless.  It's a really distinctive sound.

my FAVORITE way of playing it!

Hi-Hat technique has been my personal obsession.  This is the part of the drum kit that I think enhances the music (for me) therefore I have been relentless in trying to learn as many techniques for playing the Hi-Hat.  I believe the two best hat players are Dave Weckl and Jeff Porcaro to me they can play the hats in a way that just works with the music and gives it that extra spice.  Therefore, for me multiple ways of playing the hats is the way to go and there isnt a perfect way just the best way for the music you are playing..

dw

  I love laying into the quarter note with the shaft of the stick and playing the &'s with the tip on the top(or the other way around  ).

  But like someone else said, I try to play a hi hat pattern that fits the song.

Whatever the song calls for.
The songs structure and feel will dictate how it should be played.

example: "Fool in the Rain" by Zep. Play it both ways and see what a diffrence it makes in the way the song sounds.

My $0.02

-RHS

Both

oof. i forgot the question already.  



i use all parts, and sometimes turn the stick around and hit with the butt. i really like that sound. thick and monstrous.


for certain tunes, i alternate between the bead and the shaft, using a 'rocking' wrist motion, or as my old teach used to call them, 'rockin' 16ths'. it sounds really cool, especially against a full electric guitar with a little flanger added it.



this is the nice thing about drums. you can pretty much do what you want to do and play how you want to play [within reason], so long as it sounds good.



but a funny note on this: we were watching some old video of us, and i saw that i used to keep my right crash cymbal way the heck off to my right side, like almost at 4:00. i suppose at the time i had a rational reason for doing it, but it made absolutely no sense ergonomically, AND you couldn't hear the cymbal worth a dang.


but i guess that's why they say ignorance is bliss.

Allover. Tip, shoulder, shaft, bell, bow, underneath, etc...

depends on what sound I want.

The way that sounds the best.  When I'm playing eighth notes or just about everything I have a pretty bad habit of using the moeller technique on quite a bit of what I play (so they sound more like quarters).  On the really "straight" feeling stuff I'll keep my playing technique consistent (bead or shoulder) but usually every second note I'm playing with the one hand is not as heavy as an accent.  I CAN accent the 2nd note with the proverbial "forearm throw-finger pull techniques" but if I'm just cruising, playing a run of the mill ride pattern, the first note of my ride patterns are a little more pronounced than the second.  No biggie, I just learned that it can make your groove "feel" better using this technique.  YMMV

I'm not one to bragg but....  

Mostly the tip of the stick about an inch from the edge of the HH. I do, how ever, use the butt end to ride the edge depending on what I'm playing. Some rock calls for a louder, stronger sound and you use what ever it takes to deliver the goods.

now that is a new one for me, i gotta try that