How to make hi-hat rolls (trap hats)

Start with steady eighth-note hats, then add short rolls in a few places: two 16ths before a beat, a triplet near the end of the bar, a burst of 32nds into the next bar. Keep the roll notes quieter than the main hats, and don't roll everywhere, or nothing stands out.

How to do it

1. Program hats on every eighth note for the whole loop.
2. Pick one or two spots per bar, often the end of beat 2 and the end of beat 4.
3. Replace those hats with a short roll: 16ths, triplets (set the grid to 1/6 or 1/12) or 32nds.
4. Turn the roll notes down 20 to 40% in velocity so they sit behind the main hats.
5. Vary the rolls between bars, and try pitching a roll up a few semitones for a rising feel.

Why it works

A steady hat pattern keeps time but gets boring fast. Short rolls add movement and tension in small doses, and the contrast with the straight eighths is what makes them bounce.