If you are starting from the Setup Wizard with a Drum Set, the o symbol is an articulation, in slot 22, or metatool O (letter O, not zero!)

Hi Mke,

Thank you so much. I admit, I really overlooked this possibilty. Wich could be used also. However, I'm looking for how to exchange the open hihat symbol so that it automatically be placed into the score correctly. But for now, again, your solution is fine, thank you.

Overall, it's confusing that both the open/closed hihat do have the very same notehead wich is well differentiated in playback mode though, but is, unacceptable  grafic-wise.

Jacque,

The standard notation for an open and closed HH is the "o" & "+".

Hello, Jacques.

My wife is a professional drummer. You might have seen her Youtube video, “Wedding Dress Drummer”. She has many students and we have made many drum charts for them. Here is what I have created for her in Finale. We made a different graphic for the Open HiHat - it looks like the attached pdf:

Here’s how I did it on my Mac:

Create a new document - Command + N

In the Menu Bar, click Document/Set Default Music Font/Jazz,  size 24 (or Maestro, whatever)

Hit Command + K to bring up the Score Manager

Delete the Blank Staff by clicking the X on the right side of the window

Click on Add Instrument/Drums/Drum Set

Close the Score Manager

Click the Staff Tool

Right click or Control click the Staff

Click Select Percussion Layout - the Percussion Layout Selection box opens

Drum Set is highlighted

Click Edit to open the Percussion Layout Designer window

Click on Hi-Hat Open 

Where it says “Closed Notehead”, put a capital X in the box and click OK

Click Select to close Percussion Layout Designer window

Now, when you enter closed and open HiHat notes, they’re on the same line, but they are graphically different.

I hope this is what you were looking for. 

Bobby

Bobby,

Your example shows what a quarter notehead looks like under this system. I'm curious as to what an open and closed half note looks like.