Its amazing how many great drummers were influenced by Billy Cobham. Everyone remembers the first time they saw Billy play the drums. I remember the first time I saw Simon. It was the Who's farewell farewell farewell tour at RFK stadium around 1989-90. I was so far away I'd watch Simon do a fill on the giant screen and hear it 2 seconds later. Life-changing show. I remember him playing lefthanded that night. He was perfect for the Who!
Actually started open hand on a rightie kit, but am experimenting with open hand on a leftie kit. It's super helpful to play both ways, it helps you develop equal limb accuracy.
@@andywitch666 the good thing is that I also play guitar so I'm able to keep my strong hand (picking hand) strong by practicing guitar and strengthen my weak hand by practicing drums. Still not good enough to play Spastic Ink though 🤣
I love playing open handed and have been working on it for years and years. Whenever I practice something with my right hand, I'll then try it with my left and sometimes even left foot leading. Great for your brain!
One thing that's transformed my playing is adding a ride for my left hand, one for the right, and I finally added my long stored second DW9000 bass drum pedal. I've always been a single pedal player, with one right handed ride. But now that I don't pay out anymore I finally added that second pedal and a left ride cymbal and it's just expanded my playing to places I never knew I could travel. I am a fully left handed person that learned to play right handed, guess I emulated how other drums were set up righty, never even saw a lefty. But with everything in my life left handed other than the drums, I've taken to it quickly, and the second bass pedal too, although I'm still righty dominant with both, but man my left side has had lots of living in the lead, so watch out right limbs. lol.
I was taught from beginning to play left handed but I’ve always felt self conscious about it when so many people playing X, it’s comforting to know I’m not a weirdo
I (a righty) once went to the step of switching my drums around to make them left-handed, in order to strengthen my left side. It was fun, not the most viable experiment, but it was good to try.
One tip I'd like to add as a left handed drummer playing on righty kits is that with double bass, alternating, especially with triplets can be a really great thing to learn (RLR LRL RLR LRL, etc.). I noticed a lot of drummers when doing triplets will try to stick with right foot lead and do RLR over and over again instead of alternating RLR and LRL. The problem is there are some triplet patterns that are SO MUCH EASIER if you alternate and you can do straight triplet patterns a hell of a lot faster if you just alternate RLR LRL RLR LRL instead of trying to do RLR all the time. I alternate almost to a fault, like I don't even just alternate with triplets, even simple patterns I'm constantly alternating to where I almost never hit the same foot twice in a row (Unless my left foots on the hi hat pedal). but I find that when you really get used to this style of play, you just have a lot more control and ease with playing almost any pattern.
Been playing open handed for a few years now, but haven't committed to moving the ride cymbal to my left yet. Left hand on the hats. right hand on the ride seems to work the best for me.
When i started drumming i immediately went to open handed style just by instinct even though i'm right handed, i thought i was a freak, turns out it's just another way of playing :D
I always thought I was doing something wrong playing open handed, tons of my drummer friends are freaked out by it and impressed at the ability to play ambidextrously. To me it just made sense, the high hat was on the left, the ride cymbal was on the right, why would I cross my hands over to play on the high hat. I've since taken advantage of the ergonomics afforded to you by playing open handed and I've got rides on both sides, 2 snares, 2 floor toms (one on the left), closed high hats on the right, etc. It makes it so I don't have to set my kit up in a weird way to make for clearance for my hands too.
Due to the music I play (extreme metal mostly) a lot of ambidextrous playing is needed to be able to reach certain speeds or play a particular blast beat in a certain tempo on the hi hat and yeah, it opens up a whole different way of playing and approaching the drums. You see to it things that you wouldn't or couldn't see before and it's very neat if I so say so
I have had the same journey, accept that I started playing left-handed then reverted back to the natural way many years later... why do we still teach to cross arms is beyond me...! I never had the ride on the left side tho. Make sense, is scary xD
Or, as some of us lefties might term it, 'How to Start Out Playing Drums When Your Friends Are All Right-Handed' When I bought my own kit I simply set it up 'right-handed' but play lefthand lead on the highhats. As well, my ride cymbal is parked between my snare and high tom.
I am not at all left handed but play open anyways. This is because my teacher would, whenever a new student came in, especially a young kid like me, let them start playing without telling them how to. His reasoning was that whatever way they started playing, open or closed, would probaply be their most natural way. So I now have a strong right hand but play open. Now idea how much truth there is to his theory but I am glad I play they way that I do.
The correct term is open-handed. A left-handed drummer sets a drum set up opposite a right-handed drummer. Phil Collins is a left-handed drummer. Dave Weckl is a right-handed drummer. Ian Pace is a left-handed drummer. Steve Smith is a right-handed drummer. Rod Morganstien is a left-handed drummer. Ringo Starr is a right-handed drummer. John Fowler (Steel Heart) was a left-handed drummer. Thomas Lang is a right-handed drummer. Mark Craney was a left-handed drummer. Mike Mangini is a right handed drummer who can also play left handed(a drum set that is set up for a left-handed drummer). A right -handed drummer can play open-handed and still will be playing right-handed. I think I've explained it well enough. Any questions???
Hi Simon. Absolutely fascinating video..I have been a bass player for the last 40 yrs (semi pro) arthritis has put an end to that but i have always loved the drums and have decided now to take up the sticks.I am naturally left handed but played right handed bass.. do you recommend setting up the kit left handed or right handed as i can play a bit both ways or will it be a case of try both and see what is best.
I think most naturally Left handed people are partially ambidextrous as let's face it they live in a Right handed world and have to adapt. Therefore it may be easier for them to play leading with the opposite hand and foot to their natural hand and foot. One other reason for this could be that when learning and having to sit in on another persons kit, the odds are it will be set up Right handed. Therefore a certain adaptability of the feet is required straight away.
The only right handed player I've seen with a really low hi hat (playing cross-hand) is the wonderful Chester Thompson. It looks really uncomfortable, but he's a magical player!
My left hand experience is limited to playing snare drum rudiments starting with the left hand and going to the right hand, as a natural alternating thing, of course. I have played beat's left hand oriented on the hi hats but as was pointed out didn't get the ride over there too, for total commitment, it's something I've thought about a lot over the year's and will take to soon, I'll probably add a left hand ride, as it were, so if i bottle it I'm ok :)
I am by no means an extremely accomplished drummer, but I have most of the "basic" beats down well. I used the 30 Day Drummer course to challenge myself to lead with my left hand and foot instead of my natural right side. It's still difficult to play ghost notes and more complex syncopation, but it's a great start to feeling a little more free around the kit
@@milliondollarbike ha! I'm just getting started on open handed, and I can't believe how crass and loud my ghost notes are. I'm trying to whisper on the snare very softly with my dominant hand... and it goes WHAM!, lol. Just, the prefect rimshot.
I believe Billy Cobham (5th Dimension, Mahavishnu Orchestra) may have been the first well known drummer to have used this technique shortly followed by Lenny White (Return to Forever) and believe both were a big influence on Simon in particular Billy.
@@frederf69 as Simon said at the beginning it is difficult especially if you have been playing for many years but I really find it rewarding and helpful because it opens a new door in your creativity
I used to play open handed a ton because my right hand would get tired sometimes, and because I'm left handed playing a righty kit The problem is, i could never get used to doing ghost notes with my right hand because they've always been such a huge part of my playing so I feel like I'm handicapping myself by playing open handed so I just went back to cross stick and now can't even do the basic songs I used to open handed. I should probably try to do it more though TBH Not everything needs ghost notes... on second thought, that's a lie, everything should have ghost notes, even metal LOL (legit, the GOAT metal drummer AKA Matt Hallpern is infamous for using ghost notes constantly so I'm only half joking)
After 41 years of playing x-handed, I began playing open-handed 4 years ago after seeing Simon play that way. Who says old dogs can't learn new tricks? Seriously, it is the best thing I have ever learned, when it comes to drums.
Holy s**t! As a lefty drummer for 20+ years, I NEVER once thought to move the ride to the left side. It's so freakin obvious now! Thank You Simon! You're a genius and I feel like a dumbass.
There’s certain advantages to doing that when you’ve got more toms. The ride takes a lot of space on the right, while the left, next to the hat mostly has a lot more space. I find it a more ergonomic setup
Thaaat's me. Left handed but right handed set up. It's always been advantageous for me. Plus I'm good at riding with my right hand too. I'm very weird in that i golf and bat right handed, throw left handed, etc. It's generates a lot of power in golfing and batting too. I used to be insecure about my open handed playing but as I grew older I noticed more and more of the drummers I watched doing the same thing and it gave me confidence.
Hi Simon, I found your clip fascinating. I taught myself the drums age 15 in 1975 in New Zealand on my 1st kit ($40 2nd hand kit). I'm right handed in everything except drumming. I taught myself using my records and songs on the radio by myself in my bedroom. Back then as a kid I never knew drummers usually played with crossed arms. I thought... the logical way to play would be to use your left hand for the high hat seeing it is on the left, the snare is next to it kind of in front of the right hand, so right hand hits the snare. Thats how I thought everyone played. About a year later I realised I had taught myself to play left handed. It works well for me and I still love playing my drums that way today at age 62 but now in Denmark.
I sadly doubt that Dave Weckl will come on Drumeo. He has recorded hours of material of his own online drum school. It makes no commercial sense for him to devalue his own school and effectively promote Drumeo. Drumeo is just amazing!
I mean you are totally right. Dave Weckl has been really good at producing quality educational resources going back years. The book Dave Weckl 'The Next Step' is very black with notes and some parts are just ridiculously difficult at speed.
@@anthonypalmer2319 he is just on another level. But seeing him at Drumeo and him promoting his school would be great. His technique and touch is just something else.
I switched to open hand in 1999 after many years of playing righty. I’m left handed and it took a full year to relearn. Ergonomically I still like having the first tom higher in the air like Hellhammer’s setup.
Im right handed. But the first time I played the drums I immediately played open handed. I didn't know how others played because I haven't seen any drummers in my life before. But the first time I saw I questioned myself why is he playing like that? That doesn't make any sense to play with the hands crossed like that.
When my curriculum sports and games and having football shoes at primary 🏫 and secondary 🏫 academic performance UPSR ( 2004) 1C,4B and PMR ( 2007) 4C,3B I'm very proud of it's . After I finished my biggest SPM ( 2009) I will not going back with my mother at her Small towns liked LAWAS I will find a Job's at Supermarket Everrise starting at 1 January's 2010 worked as sale's assistant , storekeeper and Cashier's with RM 500 and opening account 🏦 with identity card number and buying a new wallet .
I started drumming right handed...but play open handed now..and it made me a much better drummer over all..with a lot of practice..i have rides on bothsides..and 2 sets of hats one on each side..keep on drumming..
The drum kit is my second instrument, but I've got a 'thing' happening. I am truly left-handed, but playing conventionally. I have an aux/closed hi-hat on my right side, and when I go to it, my stronger left hand has easy access to all the toms. The other bonus is that although I train as a right-handed drummer, leading with my left comes quite naturally, which gives me options, even as an intermediate drummer. Changing direction, for example, not too difficult for me (on a 7 piece) to go around and back, using proper sticking. Or leading with the left, while going right, causing that different sound Simon mentioned. Its not open-hand, but an aux hat is something a lefty playing conventionally might want to consider.
I started out playing completely open handed with a kit layout that is not usual too. There was a time when I almost switched to a lefty setup. I am left handed at some things, right handed at others. I settled on a pretty typical righty setup, but my ride still sits above my hihat, and I play open handed almost exclusively, for the same reason you showed. Just feels way more natural to me.
I am heavily left-handed, but was taught to play drums right-handed because it would have been too much effort for my drum teacher to switch the kit over. I've been told numerous times that I try to lead with my left, which can cause some issues. This looks like a cool playing style, I'll have to switch and see if anything feels a bit better.
I've been playing both ways now for several years and although still essentially a right lead player, I have found the most difficult part of left leading is retraining your right hand to play all the grace and passing notes. The other difficult thing is gaining the finer motor skills with the left hand and fingers, particularly in faster pieces of music. Overall however, I love that left lead provides a much better BALANCE when sitting at the kit.. It has definitely improved the accuracy and power of my bass drum notes!
I am Ambidextrous! and drumming is making that stronger. so I'm excited to see this! Help me understand myself currently 🙃 I already do all these things hahaha!!! I'm left handed but write with both hands if I wish b
Would love to hear more on the starting tom fills with the left hand lead. I've been playing open handed as a left hand drummer forever, but still struggle sometimes getting the same chops as other drummers who start with their right hand. I feel like some chops just aren't possible starting with left hand at this point..
I'm struggling with my left hand, but over the months that despite being right-handed, I can do fills with my left while playing a left-handed configuration (I just want to play my own way instead of what everyone's doing, purely out of the idea to strengthen my left more). It's tricky but after awhile you get the hang of it!
I put my hats dead center just behind the snare, then mirror image toms and cymbals left and right. Never looking back. I'm learning not only leading with left and/or right, but playing the groove without even thinking about or even knowing which hand I'm leading with. Just two hands, two feet , a symmetrical drum layout, and the beat. I got the idea from watching a left handed drummer playing right handed kit. His groove was very unique compared the other drummers in band class.
I am 68 years old and am still learning some of the basics. I find this so very helpful. I've done a lot of crossover stuff on the hi hat and have tried to become more ambidextrous and this video really helps. It more than anything inspires me to free up my right hand and do more. Thanks!!!!!!!
I love your honesty when you mentioned that as an 18 year old, looks seemed to matter more than than the functionality of your kit. I am 72 yes old and hate to admit it, but I am quite like that today. I am not a gigging drummer, as I do all of my playing in my basement along to cds, so I am able to kind of get why with it. My set is pretty much a pieced together Frankenstein set, but to me, it looks cool, and if that is what keeps me motivated it’s all good. Thank you for the interesting lesson. Now I am going to attempt to teach myself to play open handed.
This is not as hard as you'd think! It just takes time and patience. I've been practicing open handed for a short period most days for a couple of years and I'd say my left handed playing is about 90% as good as my right handed now and my left hand is pretty much as strong as my right. The main thing I struggle with playing left handed is to be able to freely improvise. I'm still stuck playing a lot of set grooves. Playing left handed is definitely worth it for improving left hand strength and dexterity alone. You don't necessarily need to master it and switch permanently to open handed. The results will really improve your right handed playing (my left hand ghost notes are now a lot more consistent and defined, and my overall hand speed has improved). I'd recommend starting on very simple grooves and just building up the complexity. Left hand lead fills can be very cool as well!
I stopped playing about 10 years ago but a dozen years or so before that I decided to go full-commit and learned how to ride with either hand and generally play open-armed at the kit. It was definitely worth it. Do not feel like you have to be able to do everything you did riding with the dominant hand with the other hand; just focus on being able to do anything and everything cleanly and solidly. You may never get "equal" but that's okay. Maybe you'll do stuff riding with the other hand that you wouldn't otherwise have done. Let me share a tip: I found swing ride with the other hand to be awful. I sounded like crap. But what I did to help was to put on some swing tunes to play along with and just sit there riding with *both* hands; your good hand will teach the other hand. Trust me - it works! BTW it was Simon on "Give Blood" that gave me the impetus. I loved how that looked and sounded - so balanced and poised. Freaks out most all other drummers too, and if you do what I did and saw off a few inches of HH center rod so you can lower the HH cymbals and place toms partially over them, other drummers will balk at playing on your kit! :)
Great video, funny and inspiring. I was thinking about setting the hihat on the right hand side of the kit. Benefit: the freedom to let the left hand drive over the toms while the right hand continues to play on HH. I mean instead of getting a lefthand drummer. Whereas flipping from righthand to lefthand surely increases your skills a lot. Simon I love your sound!!!! ❤
Wow this is super timely! I recently tired the same exercise myself to work on my left, noticed all my favourite drummers are lefties. seeing this is super motivating!
No Doubt Playing Leading With Your WEAK Side will help you open up.. Now If You Have No Imagination Thats A Different Story.... whats Better in Boxing to Have 1 Powerful Arm or 2 ?????
I'm A Blessed Bassist for Muchogrande Years...However when playing drums 🥁 🪘...I've allways Naturally been an " Open handed" drummer...I can play cross ✝️ handled aswell...Thanks for your Vlog...Keep up The Great Wrk Sir💜💯⭐🎰🌎🙏.
Audrey & Kate = The only TRUE ambidextrous guitarist; sister on bass/vocals. Dragonforce / "Through the Fire and Flames" {full song} (R) ruclips.net/video/tBgN2ZtZ7gc/видео.html (L) ruclips.net/video/nhC6WPPvLz4/видео.html
This is nonsense. Billy Cobham is right-handed. He is NOT left-handed. He told me this himself at a drum clinic in Croydon (UK). When it came to the "questions from the audience" time, I said, "Hi Billy! You're left-handed but you play on a right-handed kit, so how do you...?" and at this point he interrupted me, held up his right hand and said, "No... I'm right-handed." He said this to me IN PERSON. Can we PLEASE get this established once and for all? Billy Cobham is NOT left-handed. BILLY COBHAM IS RIGHT-HANDED! Did you hear what I said? BILLY COBHAM IS RIGHT-HANDED!
Audrey & Kate = The only TRUE ambidextrous guitarist; sister on bass/vocals. Bullet For My Valentine / "Hand of Blood" {full song} (R) ruclips.net/video/2UZXXkY_80U/видео.html (L) ruclips.net/video/6UWjBmlUCmg/видео.html
How inspiring. I came to drumset v late and I found listening to Simon and seeing his approach, so kindly and accessible. I have a great teacher, and seeing Simon's video, pushes me even further to get better and more proficient on this instrument. Thankyou. Rosemary 🥁
A Cuban Drummer "Enrique Plat" from IRAKERE Band 1970's is a Left hander but he play the drum like a right hander, is a lot of benefits, Drummer should learn that way from the star!!
I love how top level drummers play the simplest beat and it sounds fantastic. It is a central mystery and beauty in music.
The "mystery" is ghost notes, dynamics, and precision.
Simon should have his own podcast about drums. He’s got a soothing voice and cadence, plus wisdom to boot.
Simon ASMR? 🤔educational AND sonically satisfying
When I first heard Simon speak, I thought could he be related to Eric Idle? Naw!
@@fgrady1 he even looks a bit like him
I fully and unreservedly support this suggestion.
I approve of this idea.
Its amazing how many great drummers were influenced by Billy Cobham. Everyone remembers the first time they saw Billy play the drums. I remember the first time I saw Simon. It was the Who's farewell farewell farewell tour at RFK stadium around 1989-90. I was so far away I'd watch Simon do a fill on the giant screen and hear it 2 seconds later. Life-changing show. I remember him playing lefthanded that night. He was perfect for the Who!
No wonder why Simon Phillips is such a fantastic drummer. Imagine seeing Billy Cobham when you were a teenager; that's a life-changing experience.
Actually started open hand on a rightie kit, but am experimenting with open hand on a leftie kit. It's super helpful to play both ways, it helps you develop equal limb accuracy.
Been playing open-handed ever since discovering Bobby Jarzombek in high school. Definitely helped to develop my weak hand.
Bobby did it to me too, being playing open handed for 15 years now!
@@andywitch666 the good thing is that I also play guitar so I'm able to keep my strong hand (picking hand) strong by practicing guitar and strengthen my weak hand by practicing drums. Still not good enough to play Spastic Ink though 🤣
I love playing open handed and have been working on it for years and years. Whenever I practice something with my right hand, I'll then try it with my left and sometimes even left foot leading. Great for your brain!
One thing that's transformed my playing is adding a ride for my left hand, one for the right, and I finally added my long stored second DW9000 bass drum pedal. I've always been a single pedal player, with one right handed ride. But now that I don't pay out anymore I finally added that second pedal and a left ride cymbal and it's just expanded my playing to places I never knew I could travel. I am a fully left handed person that learned to play right handed, guess I emulated how other drums were set up righty, never even saw a lefty. But with everything in my life left handed other than the drums, I've taken to it quickly, and the second bass pedal too, although I'm still righty dominant with both, but man my left side has had lots of living in the lead, so watch out right limbs. lol.
I was taught from beginning to play left handed but I’ve always felt self conscious about it when so many people playing X, it’s comforting to know I’m not a weirdo
First saw him live in 1980 and he's been a favorite ever since.
I (a righty) once went to the step of switching my drums around to make them left-handed, in order to strengthen my left side. It was fun, not the most viable experiment, but it was good to try.
His dynamics are insane. So many little notes accented with huge power
absolutely love Simon Philips, he's an amazing drum teacher.
Can you do a video of Simon playing the full version of "Give Blood"? I could watch it all day......
Wonderfully explained. I do both open handed and cross handed at the same time in my gigs I play in
Beautiful tone on his Kit 👌🏻
Great content
The remote hi hat did it for me
One tip I'd like to add as a left handed drummer playing on righty kits is that with double bass, alternating, especially with triplets can be a really great thing to learn (RLR LRL RLR LRL, etc.). I noticed a lot of drummers when doing triplets will try to stick with right foot lead and do RLR over and over again instead of alternating RLR and LRL.
The problem is there are some triplet patterns that are SO MUCH EASIER if you alternate and you can do straight triplet patterns a hell of a lot faster if you just alternate RLR LRL RLR LRL instead of trying to do RLR all the time.
I alternate almost to a fault, like I don't even just alternate with triplets, even simple patterns I'm constantly alternating to where I almost never hit the same foot twice in a row (Unless my left foots on the hi hat pedal). but I find that when you really get used to this style of play, you just have a lot more control and ease with playing almost any pattern.
WOW. Similar case and exactly same process and learning curve
Been playing open handed for a few years now, but haven't committed to moving the ride cymbal to my left yet. Left hand on the hats. right hand on the ride seems to work the best for me.
"Still love Simons Playing, On the first Michael Schenker "Solo album, "Real Tasty Playing.. And "Guitar""
great lesson
my fav drummer next to Cozy Powell
When i started drumming i immediately went to open handed style just by instinct even though i'm right handed, i thought i was a freak, turns out it's just another way of playing :D
I always thought I was doing something wrong playing open handed, tons of my drummer friends are freaked out by it and impressed at the ability to play ambidextrously. To me it just made sense, the high hat was on the left, the ride cymbal was on the right, why would I cross my hands over to play on the high hat. I've since taken advantage of the ergonomics afforded to you by playing open handed and I've got rides on both sides, 2 snares, 2 floor toms (one on the left), closed high hats on the right, etc. It makes it so I don't have to set my kit up in a weird way to make for clearance for my hands too.
Due to the music I play (extreme metal mostly) a lot of ambidextrous playing is needed to be able to reach certain speeds or play a particular blast beat in a certain tempo on the hi hat and yeah, it opens up a whole different way of playing and approaching the drums. You see to it things that you wouldn't or couldn't see before and it's very neat if I so say so
I have had the same journey, accept that I started playing left-handed then reverted back to the natural way many years later... why do we still teach to cross arms is beyond me...! I never had the ride on the left side tho. Make sense, is scary xD
Would like to see Eric Idle interview Simon Phillips. 😃
Or, as some of us lefties might term it, 'How to Start Out Playing Drums When Your Friends Are All Right-Handed'
When I bought my own kit I simply set it up 'right-handed' but play lefthand lead on the highhats.
As well, my ride cymbal is parked between my snare and high tom.
Simon Phillips inspired me to play open-handed a few years ago.
Not by doing or saying anything special. Just seeing him play that way was enough.
Great lesson, as usual from both Mr. Phillips and you guys at Drumeo.
I am not at all left handed but play open anyways. This is because my teacher would, whenever a new student came in, especially a young kid like me, let them start playing without telling them how to. His reasoning was that whatever way they started playing, open or closed, would probaply be their most natural way. So I now have a strong right hand but play open. Now idea how much truth there is to his theory but I am glad I play they way that I do.
😎👍💗🇬🇧🥁🔥🎼💣🔊))SIMON!!!
I've been a loyal fan since your playing on Jeff Beck's, "There and Back!"
" Space Boogie"
ruclips.net/video/ZZ_8YHFKRpM/видео.html
simon has the most beautiful kit in front of him
so he closes his eyes while playing it
The correct term is open-handed. A left-handed drummer sets a drum set up opposite a right-handed drummer. Phil Collins is a left-handed drummer. Dave Weckl is a right-handed drummer. Ian Pace is a left-handed drummer. Steve Smith is a right-handed drummer. Rod Morganstien is a left-handed drummer. Ringo Starr is a right-handed drummer. John Fowler (Steel Heart) was a left-handed drummer. Thomas Lang is a right-handed drummer. Mark Craney was a left-handed drummer. Mike Mangini is a right handed drummer who can also play left handed(a drum set that is set up for a left-handed drummer). A right -handed drummer can play open-handed and still will be playing right-handed. I think I've explained it well enough. Any questions???
I am left-handed with standard set up (blame Ringo). I need to learn to play right handed. And maybe someday open handed.
Left handed musician is always something
Hi Simon. Absolutely fascinating video..I have been a bass player for the last 40 yrs (semi pro) arthritis has put an end to that but i have always loved the drums and have decided now to take up the sticks.I am naturally left handed but played right handed bass.. do you recommend setting up the kit left handed or right handed as i can play a bit both ways or will it be a case of try both and see what is best.
Aquarius definitely are the inventors.he’s reminds me of Eddie Van Halen. Not afraid to try doing something different then what you normally would do.
Should i learn open-handed when I'm lefty ? I just start our drumming currently
Being left-handed I’ve only played open: except for one teacher that kept forcing me to close as it irritated him…
I think most naturally Left handed people are partially ambidextrous as let's face it they live in a Right handed world and have to adapt. Therefore it may be easier for them to play leading with the opposite hand and foot to their natural hand and foot. One other reason for this could be that when learning and having to sit in on another persons kit, the odds are it will be set up Right handed. Therefore a certain adaptability of the feet is required straight away.
You could convert the drumset to left handed and play open handed as a right handed player, right?
The only right handed player I've seen with a really low hi hat (playing cross-hand) is the wonderful Chester Thompson. It looks really uncomfortable, but he's a magical player!
I'm a right handed beginner. Would it be wise to learn how to play drums as a lefty? Or does it defeat the purpose.
Is Billy Cobham using the same china cymbal on his left side than Simon has on his left side?
good vid; you don't see too many piano players playing with their hands crossed...✌✌
The drum set is not a piano though.
Mantap 👍❤❤👍
Hahahahaha, I did the EXACT same thing, hacked into my hi hat stand when I was 18. Hilarious. I thought I was mad for the last... 30 years.
My left hand experience is limited to playing snare drum rudiments starting with the left hand and going to the right hand, as a natural alternating thing, of course.
I have played beat's left hand oriented on the hi hats but as was pointed out didn't get the ride over there too, for total commitment, it's something I've thought about a lot over the year's and will take to soon, I'll probably add a left hand ride, as it were, so if i bottle it I'm ok :)
Great video …really interesting …amazing what we can do when we put our mind to it and practise …thanks 👍
I am by no means an extremely accomplished drummer, but I have most of the "basic" beats down well. I used the 30 Day Drummer course to challenge myself to lead with my left hand and foot instead of my natural right side. It's still difficult to play ghost notes and more complex syncopation, but it's a great start to feeling a little more free around the kit
That's such a creative way to work through 30-Day Drummer. So stoked you're seeing progress on your left side!
i have played open handed for years and still struggle with ghost notes.
that's awesome im gonna give it a shot
@@milliondollarbike ha! I'm just getting started on open handed, and I can't believe how crass and loud my ghost notes are.
I'm trying to whisper on the snare very softly with my dominant hand... and it goes WHAM!, lol. Just, the prefect rimshot.
Carter Beauford is another legendary open hand drummer.
With the dave matthews band?
I believe Billy Cobham (5th Dimension, Mahavishnu Orchestra) may have been the first well known drummer to have used this technique shortly followed by Lenny White (Return to Forever) and believe both were a big influence on Simon in particular Billy.
I decided to play open handed 3 years ago!! Simon was one of the drummers that inspired me to make that change
how have you found hat playing?
@@frederf69 as Simon said at the beginning it is difficult especially if you have been playing for many years but I really find it rewarding and helpful because it opens a new door in your creativity
@@sergiozdrums hand foot coordination
I used to play open handed a ton because my right hand would get tired sometimes, and because I'm left handed playing a righty kit
The problem is, i could never get used to doing ghost notes with my right hand because they've always been such a huge part of my playing so I feel like I'm handicapping myself by playing open handed so I just went back to cross stick and now can't even do the basic songs I used to open handed. I should probably try to do it more though TBH
Not everything needs ghost notes... on second thought, that's a lie, everything should have ghost notes, even metal LOL (legit, the GOAT metal drummer AKA Matt Hallpern is infamous for using ghost notes constantly so I'm only half joking)
Same, same, same - circa 2000.
After 41 years of playing x-handed,
I began playing open-handed 4 years ago after seeing Simon play that way.
Who says old dogs can't learn new tricks?
Seriously, it is the best thing I have ever learned, when it comes to drums.
I've done the same, after not having played quite so long. It just plain makes sense.
Hallelujah brother!
Holy s**t! As a lefty drummer for 20+ years, I NEVER once thought to move the ride to the left side. It's so freakin obvious now! Thank You Simon! You're a genius and I feel like a dumbass.
There’s certain advantages to doing that when you’ve got more toms. The ride takes a lot of space on the right, while the left, next to the hat mostly has a lot more space. I find it a more ergonomic setup
What a killer drummer Simon Phillips has always been. He is like red wine...the older he gets the better he tastes!
Love him.
C.A.😀
Thaaat's me. Left handed but right handed set up. It's always been advantageous for me. Plus I'm good at riding with my right hand too. I'm very weird in that i golf and bat right handed, throw left handed, etc. It's generates a lot of power in golfing and batting too. I used to be insecure about my open handed playing but as I grew older I noticed more and more of the drummers I watched doing the same thing and it gave me confidence.
Simon is a genius, doctor drums. Best sounding drummer ever!
Amazing story by the legend. I suggest you all listen to the album of Kings Of Mercia as well.
Hi Simon, I found your clip fascinating. I taught myself the drums age 15 in 1975 in New Zealand on my 1st kit ($40 2nd hand kit). I'm right handed in everything except drumming. I taught myself using my records and songs on the radio by myself in my bedroom. Back then as a kid I never knew drummers usually played with crossed arms. I thought... the logical way to play would be to use your left hand for the high hat seeing it is on the left, the snare is next to it kind of in front of the right hand, so right hand hits the snare. Thats how I thought everyone played. About a year later I realised I had taught myself to play left handed. It works well for me and I still love playing my drums that way today at age 62 but now in Denmark.
I love that you guys managed to get Simon. I've been waiting for this!
If you ever manage Dave Weckl I'm going nuts!
Thanks Drumeo!
I sadly doubt that Dave Weckl will come on Drumeo. He has recorded hours of material of his own online drum school. It makes no commercial sense for him to devalue his own school and effectively promote Drumeo. Drumeo is just amazing!
@@anthonypalmer2319 yeah, but it would be a good promo in my opinion. Maybe... just maybe
I mean you are totally right. Dave Weckl has been really good at producing quality educational resources going back years. The book Dave Weckl 'The Next Step' is very black with notes and some parts are just ridiculously difficult at speed.
@@anthonypalmer2319 he is just on another level. But seeing him at Drumeo and him promoting his school would be great. His technique and touch is just something else.
I switched to open hand in 1999 after many years of playing righty. I’m left handed and it took a full year to relearn. Ergonomically I still like having the first tom higher in the air like Hellhammer’s setup.
Im right handed. But the first time I played the drums I immediately played open handed. I didn't know how others played because I haven't seen any drummers in my life before. But the first time I saw I questioned myself why is he playing like that? That doesn't make any sense to play with the hands crossed like that.
Virtuoso. So cool to see him still nailing "Give Blood" note for note 35 years later !
When my curriculum sports and games and having football shoes at primary 🏫 and secondary 🏫 academic performance UPSR ( 2004) 1C,4B and PMR ( 2007) 4C,3B I'm very proud of it's . After I finished my biggest SPM ( 2009) I will not going back with my mother at her Small towns liked LAWAS I will find a Job's at Supermarket Everrise starting at 1 January's 2010 worked as sale's assistant , storekeeper and Cashier's with RM 500 and opening account 🏦 with identity card number and buying a new wallet .
I started drumming right handed...but play open handed now..and it made me a much better drummer over all..with a lot of practice..i have rides on bothsides..and 2 sets of hats one on each side..keep on drumming..
The drum kit is my second instrument, but I've got a 'thing' happening. I am truly left-handed, but playing conventionally. I have an aux/closed hi-hat on my right side, and when I go to it, my stronger left hand has easy access to all the toms. The other bonus is that although I train as a right-handed drummer, leading with my left comes quite naturally, which gives me options, even as an intermediate drummer. Changing direction, for example, not too difficult for me (on a 7 piece) to go around and back, using proper sticking. Or leading with the left, while going right, causing that different sound Simon mentioned. Its not open-hand, but an aux hat is something a lefty playing conventionally might want to consider.
And even Simon Phillips proves that everything modern drumming can be traced back to Billy Cobham.
"Give Blood" is one the most energetic and kick arse drum beats ever... Simon Phillips is the best.
Could we please get the full “give blood”
Performance?
I started out playing completely open handed with a kit layout that is not usual too. There was a time when I almost switched to a lefty setup. I am left handed at some things, right handed at others. I settled on a pretty typical righty setup, but my ride still sits above my hihat, and I play open handed almost exclusively, for the same reason you showed. Just feels way more natural to me.
I am heavily left-handed, but was taught to play drums right-handed because it would have been too much effort for my drum teacher to switch the kit over. I've been told numerous times that I try to lead with my left, which can cause some issues. This looks like a cool playing style, I'll have to switch and see if anything feels a bit better.
Hell yess! Where you at?
I've been playing both ways now for several years and although still essentially a right lead player, I have found the most difficult part of left leading is retraining your right hand to play all the grace and passing notes. The other difficult thing is gaining the finer motor skills with the left hand and fingers, particularly in faster pieces of music. Overall however, I love that left lead provides a much better BALANCE when sitting at the kit.. It has definitely improved the accuracy and power of my bass drum notes!
I am Ambidextrous! and drumming is making that stronger. so I'm excited to see this! Help me understand myself currently 🙃 I already do all these things hahaha!!! I'm left handed but write with both hands if I wish b
Would love to hear more on the starting tom fills with the left hand lead. I've been playing open handed as a left hand drummer forever, but still struggle sometimes getting the same chops as other drummers who start with their right hand. I feel like some chops just aren't possible starting with left hand at this point..
I'm struggling with my left hand, but over the months that despite being right-handed, I can do fills with my left while playing a left-handed configuration (I just want to play my own way instead of what everyone's doing, purely out of the idea to strengthen my left more). It's tricky but after awhile you get the hang of it!
I put my hats dead center just behind the snare, then mirror image toms and cymbals left and right. Never looking back. I'm learning not only leading with left and/or right, but playing the groove without even thinking about or even knowing which hand I'm leading with. Just two hands, two feet , a symmetrical drum layout, and the beat. I got the idea from watching a left handed drummer playing right handed kit. His groove was very unique compared the other drummers in band class.
I will try this..a lefty here .thanks
love it! Hes the master at this! You forgot though the only disadvantage is we are not Simon Phillips! Lol! thanks for vids. great Channel!
What about getting the 1990’s Burning for Buddy drummers together! Tribute to Neil! Come on drumeo! Please! Pretty please!
Huh. I play open handed. Never knew it had a name, or was a technique. LOL. I just thought I played "wrong" because no one ever taught me.
I am 68 years old and am still learning some of the basics. I find this so very helpful. I've done a lot of crossover stuff on the hi hat and have tried to become more ambidextrous and this video really helps. It more than anything inspires me to free up my right hand and do more. Thanks!!!!!!!
I love your honesty when you mentioned that as an 18 year old, looks seemed to matter more than than the functionality of your kit. I am 72 yes old and hate to admit it, but I am quite like that today. I am not a gigging drummer, as I do all of my playing in my basement along to cds, so I am able to kind of get why with it. My set is pretty much a pieced together Frankenstein set, but to me, it looks cool, and if that is what keeps me motivated it’s all good.
Thank you for the interesting lesson. Now I am going to attempt to teach myself to play open handed.
This is not as hard as you'd think! It just takes time and patience. I've been practicing open handed for a short period most days for a couple of years and I'd say my left handed playing is about 90% as good as my right handed now and my left hand is pretty much as strong as my right. The main thing I struggle with playing left handed is to be able to freely improvise. I'm still stuck playing a lot of set grooves. Playing left handed is definitely worth it for improving left hand strength and dexterity alone. You don't necessarily need to master it and switch permanently to open handed. The results will really improve your right handed playing (my left hand ghost notes are now a lot more consistent and defined, and my overall hand speed has improved). I'd recommend starting on very simple grooves and just building up the complexity. Left hand lead fills can be very cool as well!
Always learning with Simon!
I stopped playing about 10 years ago but a dozen years or so before that I decided to go full-commit and learned how to ride with either hand and generally play open-armed at the kit. It was definitely worth it. Do not feel like you have to be able to do everything you did riding with the dominant hand with the other hand; just focus on being able to do anything and everything cleanly and solidly. You may never get "equal" but that's okay. Maybe you'll do stuff riding with the other hand that you wouldn't otherwise have done. Let me share a tip: I found swing ride with the other hand to be awful. I sounded like crap. But what I did to help was to put on some swing tunes to play along with and just sit there riding with *both* hands; your good hand will teach the other hand. Trust me - it works! BTW it was Simon on "Give Blood" that gave me the impetus. I loved how that looked and sounded - so balanced and poised. Freaks out most all other drummers too, and if you do what I did and saw off a few inches of HH center rod so you can lower the HH cymbals and place toms partially over them, other drummers will balk at playing on your kit! :)
Great video, funny and inspiring. I was thinking about setting the hihat on the right hand side of the kit. Benefit: the freedom to let the left hand drive over the toms while the right hand continues to play on HH. I mean instead of getting a lefthand drummer. Whereas flipping from righthand to lefthand surely increases your skills a lot. Simon I love your sound!!!! ❤
Wow this is super timely! I recently tired the same exercise myself to work on my left, noticed all my favourite drummers are lefties. seeing this is super motivating!
My favorite drummer of all time 💖
Simon is a legendary drummer!
il a réussi l'impossible!...voila ce qui differencie un DIEU du commun des batteurs!
No Doubt Playing Leading With Your WEAK Side will help you open up.. Now If You Have No Imagination Thats A Different Story.... whats Better in Boxing to Have 1 Powerful Arm or 2 ?????
I'm A Blessed Bassist for Muchogrande Years...However when playing drums 🥁 🪘...I've allways Naturally been an " Open handed" drummer...I can play cross ✝️ handled aswell...Thanks for your Vlog...Keep up The Great Wrk Sir💜💯⭐🎰🌎🙏.
I absolutely live Simon Phillips drumming. The shirt is sending me. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Check out Vlad Ulasevich on JINJER - Vortex (Live Drum Playthrough Budapest, Hungary) ;)
Audrey & Kate = The only TRUE ambidextrous guitarist; sister on bass/vocals.
Dragonforce / "Through the Fire and Flames" {full song}
(R) ruclips.net/video/tBgN2ZtZ7gc/видео.html (L) ruclips.net/video/nhC6WPPvLz4/видео.html
This is nonsense. Billy Cobham is right-handed. He is NOT left-handed. He told me this himself at a drum clinic in Croydon (UK). When it came to the "questions from the audience" time, I said, "Hi Billy! You're left-handed but you play on a right-handed kit, so how do you...?" and at this point he interrupted me, held up his right hand and said, "No... I'm right-handed." He said this to me IN PERSON. Can we PLEASE get this established once and for all? Billy Cobham is NOT left-handed. BILLY COBHAM IS RIGHT-HANDED! Did you hear what I said? BILLY COBHAM IS RIGHT-HANDED!
Audrey & Kate = The only TRUE ambidextrous guitarist; sister on bass/vocals.
Bullet For My Valentine / "Hand of Blood" {full song}
(R) ruclips.net/video/2UZXXkY_80U/видео.html (L) ruclips.net/video/6UWjBmlUCmg/видео.html
How inspiring. I came to drumset v late and I found listening to Simon and seeing his approach, so kindly and accessible. I have a great teacher, and seeing Simon's video, pushes me even further to get better and more proficient on this instrument. Thankyou.
Rosemary 🥁
A Cuban Drummer "Enrique Plat" from IRAKERE Band 1970's is a Left hander but he play the drum like a right hander, is a lot of benefits, Drummer should learn that way from the star!!
Dennis Wilson played this way. Some made fun of it. Very powerful.
GIVE BLOOD, wowza, I had forgotten that track, it all makes sense seeing Simon spank this out.