# Free open hi-hat samples > Free open hi-hat one-shots, from tight half-open barks to long washy sizzles, for house, disco, trap and breaks, with a licence verdict on every sound. 28 samples from 2 sources (Strudel sample banks 14, Wikimedia Commons 14), updated 2026-10-23. Picked from a live search and refreshed daily. - Same search in the browser: https://sound.shep.bot/search?q=open+hat&category=drums.hat.open - Same search over the API: `curl "https://sound.shep.bot/v1/search?q=open+hat&category=drums.hat.open"` - Details, files and the credit line: `GET https://sound.shep.bot/v1/samples/{id}` with an id from the table below. - Licence verdicts: "Commercial use OK" (with or without credit) is cleared for a release; anything else must be checked or is non-commercial. See https://sound.shep.bot/docs/licences.md ## What to listen for An open hi-hat is the two cymbals of the hat stand struck while they are apart, so the sound rings instead of stopping dead. Samples range from a short half-open "tss" to a long, washy decay. Drum machine opens, such as the 808's and 909's, are bright and noisy; acoustic opens carry more pitch and a slower decay. Pick the length for your tempo. At 125 BPM an offbeat open hat has a little under a quarter of a second before the next kick, so a long sample will smear unless you shorten it with the amp envelope. ## Fitting it in the mix Open hats live in the same band as vocals' sibilance and snare crack. A high-pass around 300 Hz removes low thud you don't need, and a touch of velocity variation keeps a sixteen-bar loop from sounding like a copy-paste. Choke it with your closed hat, as a drummer's foot would. ## Samples | Sample | id | What | Source | Licence | Commercial use | Direct download | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Phonk Open Hat (10)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Open_Hat_(10).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Open_Hat_(10).wav` | Open hat, One-shot, 0.44 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Phonk Open Hat (9)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Open_Hat_(9).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Open_Hat_(9).wav` | Open hat, One-shot, 0.94 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Phonk Open Hat (5)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Open_Hat_(5).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Open_Hat_(5).wav` | Open hat, One-shot, 0.33 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Akai Linn · oh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-oh/Open%20Hat.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_oh/0` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Phonk Open Hat (8)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Open_Hat_(8).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Open_Hat_(8).wav` | Open hat, One-shot, 0.22 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Akai MPC60 · oh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiMPC60/akaimpc60-oh/Open%20Hat.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiMPC60_oh/0` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Phonk Open Hat (6)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Open_Hat_(6).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Open_Hat_(6).wav` | Open hat, One-shot, 0.42 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Akai XR10 · oh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiXR10/akaixr10-oh/Hat%20Open.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiXR10_oh/0` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Phonk Open Hat (7)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Open_Hat_(7).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Open_Hat_(7).wav` | Open hat, One-shot, 0.25 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Alesis HR-16 · oh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AlesisHR16/alesishr16-oh/Open%20Hat.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AlesisHR16_oh/0` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Phonk Open Hat (2)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Open_Hat_(2).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Open_Hat_(2).wav` | Open hat, One-shot, 0.46 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Alesis SR-16 · oh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AlesisSR16/alesissr16-oh/Hat%20Open-01.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AlesisSR16_oh/0` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Phonk Open Hat (12)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Open_Hat_(12).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Open_Hat_(12).wav` | Open hat, One-shot, 1.2 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Alesis SR-16 · oh · 1](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AlesisSR16/alesissr16-oh/Hat%20Open-02.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AlesisSR16_oh/1` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Phonk Open Hat (13)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Open_Hat_(13).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Open_Hat_(13).wav` | Open hat, One-shot, 0.94 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Alesis SR-16 · oh · 2](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AlesisSR16/alesissr16-oh/Hat%20Open-03.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AlesisSR16_oh/2` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Phonk Open Hat (4)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Open_Hat_(4).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Open_Hat_(4).wav` | Open hat, One-shot, 0.86 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Phonk Open Hat (3)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Open_Hat_(3).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Open_Hat_(3).wav` | Open hat, One-shot, 1.2 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Alesis SR-16 · oh · 3](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AlesisSR16/alesissr16-oh/Hat%20Reverse.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AlesisSR16_oh/3` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Phonk Open Hat (1)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Open_Hat_(1).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Open_Hat_(1).wav` | Open hat, One-shot, 0.99 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Boss DR-110 · oh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/BossDR110/bossdr110-oh/Hat%20Open.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/BossDR110_oh/0` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Phonk Open Hat (11)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phonk_Open_Hat_(11).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Phonk_Open_Hat_(11).wav` | Open hat, One-shot, 1.8 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Boss DR-220 · oh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/BossDR220/bossdr220-oh/Hat%20Open.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/BossDR220_oh/0` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Boss DR-550 · oh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/BossDR550/bossdr550-oh/Hat%20Open-01.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/BossDR550_oh/0` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Four-on-the-floor with offbeat open hi-hat 140 BPM](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Four-on-the-floor_with_offbeat_open_hi-hat_140_BPM.opus) | `wikimediacommons:Four-on-the-floor_with_offbeat_open_hi-hat_140_BPM.opus` | Open hat, Loop, 140 BPM, 7.5 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes | | [Boss DR-550 · oh · 1](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/BossDR550/bossdr550-oh/Hat%20Open-02.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/BossDR550_oh/1` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Casio SK-1 · oh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/CasioSK1/casiosk1-oh/Hat%20Open.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/CasioSK1_oh/0` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Doepfer MS-404 · oh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/DoepferMS404/doepferms404-oh/Hat%20Open.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/DoepferMS404_oh/0` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | ## Questions **Why does my open hat sound messy next to the closed hat?** On a real kit the closed hat chokes the open one, because both come from the same pair of cymbals. Put both samples in one choke group (most samplers and drum racks have the option) so a closed hit cuts the open tail short. **Where should an open hat go in a house beat?** The classic placement is on the offbeat, the 'and' between kicks, which gives four-on-the-floor patterns their lift. Keep the tail short enough that it ends before the next kick. ## Related collections - [Free hi-hat samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-hi-hat-samples.md): Free closed and open hi-hat samples for programming grooves, from crisp drum machine hats to acoustic cymbals, each with a preview and licence verdict. - [Free crash cymbal samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-crash-cymbal-samples.md): Free crash cymbal one-shots, from short trashy splashes to long cinematic crashes, to mark the start of a section, each with a preview and licence verdict. - [Free ride cymbal samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-ride-cymbal-samples.md): Free ride cymbal one-shots, including bell hits and bow strokes, for jazz, house and techno grooves, with previews and a commercial-use verdict on each. - [Free TR-909 drum machine samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-tr-909-drum-samples.md): Free Roland TR-909 drum machine samples: the punchy kick, clap, snare, open hat and ride behind house and techno, with previews and a licence verdict on each. - [Free breakbeats and drum breaks](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-breakbeats.md): Free drum breaks and breakbeat loops for jungle, drum and bass, hip hop and breaks, with tempo where known and a licence verdict, including cleared breaks. - [Free clap samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-clap-samples.md): Free hand clap and snap samples, from stacked crowd claps to tight drum machine claps, ready to layer with snares, each with a licence verdict and preview. --- Source: https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-open-hi-hat-samples