Blackened Open Hi-Hat Groove — Lars Ulrich (Metallica) Drum Lick | MetalForge
Learn the Blackened Open Hi-Hat Groove drum lick by Lars Ulrich of Metallica. From Blackened (...And Justice for All (1988)). "Blackened" opens ...And Justice for All with one of Lars Ulrich's most relentless performances, a d...
Gear Deep Dives & Articles
1. Lars Ulrich's Signature Licks — "Blackened" opens ...And Justice for All with one of Lars Ulrich's most relentless performances, a driving thrash groove at roughly 192 BPM that immediately establishes the album's punishing tone. The signature element of this pattern is Lars's use of the open hi-hat throughout the verse groove: rather than keeping the hi-hat closed for a tight, controlled sound, he lets it ring partially open, creating a sizzling, pressurised wash that sits under the snare and gives the groove a sense of urgent, barely-contained energy. This approach is characteristic of early Metallica's thrash aesthetic — aggressive but not rigid, with a slight ragged edge that separates it from the more polished sounds of later albums. Technically, maintaining consistent open hi-hat at this tempo requires the left foot to hold a precise tension on the pedal: too loose and the cymbal clangs uncontrollably, too tight and the open sound collapses. Lars finds the sweet spot, letting the hi-hat breathe just enough to add texture without losing clarity. The snare backbeat is punchy and authoritative, landing squarely on beats two and four to anchor the gallop, while the kick provides a driving feel under the main riff. Learning this groove develops hi-hat foot independence, dynamic sensitivity, and the stamina required to maintain a fast thrash pulse at high intensity for the full duration of the track. It is a foundational Metallica drum lesson and one of the clearest demonstrations of how hi-hat articulation can dramatically alter the character of an otherwise straightforward backbeat. Approach it by mastering the open hi-hat tension first before attempting full speed, and practise with a metronome at 60-70% tempo until the foot control is second nature.2. Lars Ulrich Profile — Set the hi-hat pedal to a precise open position that lets the cymbal ring without clanging Lock the snare firmly on beats 2 and 4 as the anchor against the open hi-hat wash Drive the kick in steady bursts under the main riff at ~192 BPM Keep the hi-hat arm relaxed so the foot tension stays consistent across the full song Add crash accents at phrase endings to punctuate the riff structure
Visit MetalForge →