Best Hi-Hats for Power Metal 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide
What hi-hats are used in power metal? Discover what Scott Travis, Aquiles Priester, Nicko McBrain, and Mikkey Dee actually play — Paiste RUDE, Custom Red-Coated, and Paiste Signature — from budget to pro, built for galloping precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hi-hats are used in power metal?
Scott Travis of Judas Priest plays Paiste RUDE Hi-Hats. Aquiles Priester of Angra plays hi-hats from his custom red-coated Paiste set for a distinctive signature voice. Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden plays Paiste Signature Hi-Hats, and Mikkey Dee of Motörhead/Scorpions plays Paiste Signature Series Hi-Hats.
What hi-hats does Nicko McBrain use?
Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden plays 14" Paiste Signature Hi-Hats, part of a setup that has powered the band's galloping, triplet-based rhythmic vocabulary for decades — the direct rhythmic foundation power metal's European scene built upon.
What hi-hats does Scott Travis use?
Scott Travis of Judas Priest currently plays 14" Paiste RUDE Hi-Hats, part of a Paiste cymbal endorsement dating back to 1987 — three years before his galvanizing "Painkiller" (1990) performance.
What size hi-hats for power metal?
14" is the standard power metal hi-hat size, used by Scott Travis, Aquiles Priester, Nicko McBrain, and Mikkey Dee alike. It balances bright, cutting projection with the articulate response galloping triplet patterns demand.
Paiste RUDE vs Custom Red-Coated hi-hats for power metal?
Both work at the highest level. Paiste RUDE (Travis's choice), Paiste Signature (McBrain's choice), and Paiste 2002 (Dee's choice) suit the genre's dominant galloping-rhythm standard. Priester's custom red-coated Paiste hi-hats offer a distinctive, neoclassical-informed alternative for drummers wanting a different visual and sonic identity.