When to hit hi-hat open?

[TelePaul]

When would one hit the hi-hat open continuously? Is it a common technique to hit it in the open position when striking, say, a 1/8 note pattern? I've been noticing a very 'loose hat' sound in alot of records recently - probably because I'm getting a little more used to how the various drums sound - and the open hat sound seems to accompany a crescendo.

Sorry if I'm not explaining this at all well, it's been a long day!

 

[Greg_L]

I use open hats all the time. Bash away! The faster you play though, you may wanna close em up a little. I like mine about 1/4 inch open

 

[SlowerHand]

When playing a 1/8 pattern on the hi hat I usually either revert to playing every other note a little softer (like XxXxXxXx, if that makes sense), or not opening the hats all the way. I love the sound of opened hats, but the trick is to make them not be too in your face in the context of all the instruments playing.

 

[Seafroggys]

I have New Beats, which are not the tightest hats to begin with. I usually sit halfway between all the way closed and open enough to be washy, so I still have stick definition but its an open sound as well.

I love playing off-beat open/closed accents on the hats though, those are really funky and cool.

 

[Dogbreath]

I like to build crescendos goin from mostly closed to open hats.