The 1920’s
The roaring 20’s saw the invention of the low boy. As its name implies, it stood
approximately 12” high and when pressed down with the foot, the mechanism closed
bringing two cymbals together. Early players credited for using the low boy include
Warren Baby Dodds, Paul Barbarin, Ben Pollack, and Stan King. Before this innovation,
drummers would accent the weak beats of two and four by choking or muting a
suspended cymbal with their hand. Now this accent could be played with the left foot
freeing up a players hands to perform syncopated rhythms. You can say this advancement
helped create the four way independence texture that drummers use today.
The low boy was elevated twice during its development. It grew into the sock cymbal,
(approximately 20” tall), and eventually the hi-hat as swing drummers like Chick Webb,
Gene Krupa, Ray McKinley, and Jo Jones wanted the option of playing time on the
cymbals with their hands.