The left foot is like the red-headed step-child of drumming.
Unless you've studied jazz, the hi hat remains a mysterious and intimidating creature. It's always over there, and you know how to play on top of it, but whenever you're doing something else with the lead hand, you kind of ignore it.
Completely ignoring the hats is probably better than what some others do - play it out of time, and/or completely unmusically.
As my friend Jordan once told me "you never *have* to play anything with the left foot".
But that creates an "uncanny valley" between nothing and something good.
So my aim in this video is to shepherd you through that valley as quickly as possible, so you can some out on the other end sounding more like a "pro".
But how are we supposed to get there?
Watch great drummers like Guiliana or Larnell, and their hat placements are esoteric.
What if you had a source code for getting inside these guys' heads?
I can't fully tell you what Mark, or Larnell, or up-and-comer Rhagav Mehrotra are thinking or feeling, but I can get you to something close to what they *play*.
Take my hand, and leap with me off the ledge.
Because on the other side is hi hat bliss.
Here's the video. Hope you enjoy.
Back next Monday with something I know you'll love.