Don't make these hi hat mistakes! 

Love those Gibraltar quick release clutches for gigging. And always have a spare clutch in your gig bag>I have mine clutched to a a backup bass beater.

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.

Great video! 🥁

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.

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 😊

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.

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.

Underrated video very good info for new drummers

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!

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.

My 50 year old Slingerland has a hex rod, has never unscrewed, set it and done.

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!!

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.

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.

Come on drummers you should know this by now!

Would have never figured this out on my own. You are a freaking genius. You must be an engineer…

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 !

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.

Nice video man! I subscribed

Could you give your opinion on high hat angle please?

wooow , jodeeeeer

You look jason newsteddy

Lukita!!

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.

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