Small Digital "High Hat"

[jlerner]

TB'ers:

I have a gig, me (on bass), and a singer/guitarist. We don't want a drummer, for many reasons. I would like to play high-hat with my foot--just keeping that basic snap on two and four.

But I don't want to carry around a real high hat. I want a small electronic pedal that ties into a very small digital thing to make a high hat (or possibly other) sound.

Any ideas?

 

[kris pung]

Not to derail this topic but how about a drum machine?

 

[FunkMetalBass]

My first thought is an electric drum module with a foot pedal. However, those midi interfaces aren't as small as I suspect you want, and for something as simple (and somewhat trivial) as that setup, it'd be easier and a lot cheaper to buy a used drum machine and set it for a constant beat.

EDIT: Or, for a cheaper pedal, Rockband/Guitar hero drum kit pedals would work.

 

[bombpop14]

They have these...

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But you'd have to have a drum machine to plug it into...I second the above..or just use a high hat..maybe from one of those little kid sets.

 

[mongo2]

There used to be a stick or box with a piezo on it that one would tap with their foot and amplify.

Or you could just lay a tambourine on the floor and tap that with your foot.

 

[DWBass]

I've used a drum machine with a start stop pedal. Had all the songs programmed and had them in sequence so all I had to do was go to the next #. Worked great.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

There's also these guys for an acoustic option:

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[FunkMetalBass]

There used to be a stick or box with a piezo on it that one would tap with their foot and amplify.

You could easily grab a little transducer and build one, but you'll still need a midi interface to handle the signal, and that's where it gets pricey.

 

[tink9975]

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this would give you more of a bass drum sound

 

[jlerner]

This would be awesome, but it's still in the "R&D" phase:

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[mongo2]

You could easily grab a little transducer and build one, but you'll still need a midi interface to handle the signal, and that's where it gets pricey.

Who said anything about a midi?

Piezos can be plugged directly into an amps high impedance input. I've done it many times. For foot tapping tone quality isn't all that important.

Still foot tapping a tambourine is much easier and considerably less expensive than more complicated solutions.

 

[J Posega]

Search "Drum stomp box" in Google. I know there's a few different companies producing them, and at least 1 produces a model that can sound more like a snare or hi-hat, but I can't seem to locate it.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Who said anything about a midi?

Piezos can be plugged directly into an amps high impedance input. I've done it many times. For foot tapping tone quality isn't all that important.

Still foot tapping a tambourine is much easier and considerably less expensive than more complicated solutions.

The midi would be required to emulate the sound of a hi-hat. If OP just wanted a click, he could pull it off without the need of anything electronic.

 

[hover]

Just do what others have done before you, and just tap your foot on a tambourine.

 

[Rickett Customs]

Closest thing I could find:

Meinl Foot Cabasa: Shop Drums & Percussion & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

or this:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/drum...-foot-shaker-bracket-w-maraca/h71809000000000

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[tstone]

You could use something like the Alesis E-Practice pad, which has built-in sounds, including about 10 high-hats.

The ergonomics are not ideal, but you could later add an expansion pedal to trigger the pad.

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[jlerner]

Thanks everybody! Some great (and creative) ideas.

I think I'm going to get one of these, which is really cheap, and small:

Amazon.com: Meinl Percussion FJS2S-BK Foot Tambourine Steel Jingles - Black: Musical Instruments

 

[hover]

nicely done! i didn't realize they had such a specialized variant when I suggested it...noted! I might buy one, it's reasonably priced!

 

[mongo2]

The midi would be required to emulate the sound of a hi-hat. If OP just wanted a click, he could pull it off without the need of anything electronic.

Did I mention tapping on a tambourine with his foot?

Thanks everybody! Some great (and creative) ideas.

I think I'm going to get one of these, which is really cheap, and small:

Amazon.com: Meinl Percussion FJS2S-BK Foot Tambourine Steel Jingles - Black: Musical Instruments

There ya go...noyce.

 

[bassbenj]

My first thought is an electric drum module with a foot pedal. However, those midi interfaces aren't as small as I suspect you want, and for something as simple (and somewhat trivial) as that setup, it'd be easier and a lot cheaper to buy a used drum machine and set it for a constant beat.

EDIT: Or, for a cheaper pedal, Rockband/Guitar hero drum kit pedals would work.

For an electronic unit, I'd recommend looking for a used Alesis DM-3 e-drum module. It's one rack space and has enough sounds and inputs to do a whole drumset. A hat just takes a simple switch like a cheapo keyboard pedal. The above expensive pedal is not necessary. if you want to "play" the hat you'll need a piezo trigger of some kind. These can be made from radio Shack piezo buzzers.

I think Alesis modules are up to DM-10 or something now ($$$), but I've got a pair of used DM-3s and they were about $100 bucks and work very nicely. The advantage of this rig is you have a very wide selection of sounds you can put on the pedal(s) Including hat, bass drum, snare drums, and a variety of latin things. The DM-3 is not programmable for sounds (I think that takes a DM-Pro) but the selection is VERY wide.

Personally the electronic thing has the advantage of a wide range of sounds, but it's some stuff to drag around. Personally I currently go acoustic. As others have noted you can get a standard bass drum pedal and mount a number of things to it. Mine can be set up for claves, cowbell, tamourine, and of course a piezo trigger to run the DM-3. Check out a drum shop to see how all this stuff is set up.

I bought a "porch board" stomp box from Rondo and that was a total waste of money. The big ones are, well, big and expensive too. And they only have the one sound not like the drum machine thing. Personally, I'd suggest using a real hat as being easier to drag around than the electronic rack! But still a real hat only does the one thing plus you may have to mic it.

Doing the simple high hat thing isn't bad but I can tell you that playing bass (or conga drums which I also play using the pedal) and doing left foot clave is a major trick! Still this is all so cool I really want to find time to try more with it. I much prefer to PLAY the percussion than have a drum machine play me.