Realistic Reggae Rock
Hi-Hat Patterns, Part I
Starting with this month’s issue, Modern Drummer is offering a three-part series curated from Carmine Appice’s brilliant book, Realistic Reggae Rock [Modern Drummer Publications]. Get those hi-hats grooving, gang!
Part I consists of hi-hat patterns that apply to reggae music. In some reggae songs, you would just play intros or breakdown sections on the hi-hat. For example, in my solo album, Carmine Appice [Pasha/Epic], there is a song called “Keep on Rolling” that has two hi-hat sections and one breakdown section. The patterns on the following pages will develop the hi-hat patterns for this use. Besides eighth notes—which are counted 1+2+3+4—the rhythms used are 16th notes.