easy lesson
Quarter-Note Hi-Hat Groove
Playing the hi-hat only on the beats — not the eighths — gives a calmer, more open feel that suits slower songs and ballads. It is also a great way to relax your hi-hat hand.
Play it yourself — keyboard or your own kit
Play the hi-hat on the beats only: 1, 2, 3, 4. Four hits, evenly spaced.
Add the kick on beats 1 and 3.
Add the snare on beats 2 and 4 to complete the groove.
GrooveSteps practice notes · Updated 2026-10-18 · How these examples are made
What to focus on
Quarter-note hi-hats leave more space between strokes than eighth notes. Keep counting the silent 'and' between numbers so that the groove does not become four disconnected hits.
Build a short practice session
Speak 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and while the hand plays only the numbers. Add the kick and snare below it. Play four bars, then silently count one bar and rejoin on beat 1 without speeding up.
Listen, check, then progress
Watch for a rushed gap after the snare. The distance from beat 2 to beat 3 should match the distance from beat 1 to beat 2. Use the backbeat lesson when you are ready to add the missing hi-hat eighth notes.
Read the final example without sound
This loop has 16 steps, with 4 steps per main beat. Count each beat as number, e, and, a. The table lists the occupied positions; every unlisted position is a rest. Start at 85 BPM or lower the control until you can follow each part.
| Voice | Count positions |
|---|---|
| kick | 1 · 3 |
| snare | 2 · 4 |
| hihat | 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 |
These positions describe the programmed example, not an artist recording. Playback uses synthesized sounds. A real performance also involves touch, dynamics and phrasing.
Keep practicing
Build a practice routine · Read drum notation · Browse the lesson path
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