[Gooner]

Hey all,
I've seen a few thread on the heel up vs. heel down vs. heel-toe on the bass drum, but I was wondering what technique everyone uses for hi-hat...I used to just rest my heel on the pedal and use my toe, but recently have tried to switch to more of a total foot stomp on the pedal...But I was watching a video where it seemed like the drummer was rocking his foot back and forth on the pedal. So, what do y'all use?

[Russ]

I use whatever I'm using for the bass drum pedal but only when I'm pressing down. So for example, if I'm going heel up on the bass, I tend to use heel up on the hi hats as well when I clomp the hats together. This is in order to keep my balance and to keep up with the general style of music. Since heel up means louder volume and more attack, you're probaly going to need the same for the hats. This is a generalization however. There will also be times when I'll use heel up on bass and heel down on the hi hats and vice versa. It all depends on the musical situation and honestly I don't really think about it when playing.

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[Mapex4Ever]

I personally do the stomp thing with my toes down on the foot board. Now, I play my bass drum pedal way down at the bottom of the foot board. Some people ask how I even play. To me I get more power and speed from playing way down there with heel up. Quads are effortless as I tend to slide up the footboard as I go. As for the hi hats, same thing. Heel up toes just above the hinge and to do an accent with my heel. I hit the foot board right in the middle using the heel. It gives the hi hats a quick close to open and imitates a semi open hi hat sound. But then again, we all have our own ways of doing things. Give it a try though. You may be surprised how easy it is.

[Glynes]

I'm trying to perfect Billy Ward's technique on the hats ... he advocates 'playing every beat that isn't there', meaning that I try to tap my heel for every beat that I'm not tapping my toe on the pedal. A cool concept ... requires killer coordination! I prefer playing the hats heel-down (except in rare extreme cases when I need to really stomp it), while I play the bass heel-up. Just feels most natural to me.

[DrummerMom]

I play the hi hat and bass pedal heel up.

[Thunderfoot]

Heel up on pedal is easier when not playing the hi hat, heel down for barks and when actually playing on it with sticks and grooving to a beat, but when doing fills or soloing, its a bonham style or ginger baker style 'independent hi hat' counting through the beat which is easier with heel up for me

[TerenceM]

I play the HH with heel up for more precision on HH notes either quarter notes,8ths or 16ths.
I play with heel down when HH sizzle is required, it's far easier to maintain the HH slightly open this way as the weight of your leg is not on the HH pedal.
So to answer the original question- I use a mixture of heel up/heel down.