Hi-hat accents are a simple way to make straight eighth-note grooves feel more alive. When playing straight eighth notes on the hi-hat, drummers often accent the strong beats. Using strokes of different volume makes the groove feel more alive and gives it more forward motion. The basic version is an alternation of accented and quiet strokes. Technically, this is often done with down and up strokes.
Accented hi-hat notes are usually played with the shoulder of the stick to create a fuller sound. When this is played well, the drum part gets a clear quarter-note pulse, and the whole arrangement feels more alive and breathing. The videos above include demonstrations by Dave Weckl and .