Groove feels stiff? Put an open hi-hat on the offbeat

Put an open hi-hat on the offbeats: the 'and' between each kick in a four-on-the-floor beat. The kick says 'down', the open hat answers 'up', and the beat starts to bounce. Remove the closed hat at the same spot so the two don't fight.

How to do it

1. Start with a kick on every beat and a clap or snare on 2 and 4.
2. Add an open hi-hat on each offbeat, exactly halfway between the kicks.
3. Delete the closed hi-hat that lands at the same time as the open one.
4. Keep the open hat short enough that it ends before the next kick.
5. Turn it down until you feel it more than you hear it, then pan it slightly.

Why it works

A groove needs an up as well as a down. The open hat's long 'tss' fills the space between kicks and gives the beat a push forward, which is the bounce in house, disco and lots of pop.