The Advantages Of Open-Handed Drumming (Ambidexterity Lesson)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 มิ.ย. 2024
- Drummers often have a stronger side and a weaker side. It can take a lifetime to develop both sides at an equal level.
Among other things, Simon Phillips is known for his ability to lead with both his left and right hand, and it’s opened up many more musical opportunities in his playing.
“I sounded different. Leading with the left made me play things differently.”
In this quick tip video, Simon talks about why he started strengthening his left hand at the age of 18 and how being an ambidextrous drummer has helped him become the powerhouse he is today.
Why should you learn to lead with your weaker hand?
You’ll build control and confidence - so even if you’re leading with your stronger hand, your weaker hand will sound more consistent with rolls, fills, and ghost notes.
You’ll have many more options for orchestrations (as in, the sounds and patterns you can create).
You’ll have more options for where you can position different pieces of your drum kit.
If you keep the groove on the hi-hats with your left hand, for example, your right hand will be free to move around the toms.
Give it a shot and balance out your playing!
Don’t miss Simon’s “Developing Freedom With Double Bass” course, which goes over balance and independence between hands and feet. Get a free 7-day trial to Drumeo to access the goods: www.drumeo.com/trial
Lesson Index:
0:00 - Intro ("Give Blood")
1:16 -- Why Simon Phillips Learned To Lead With His Left Hand
3:23 -- Billy Cobham Performance
4:32 -- Performance Clip "Solitaire"
5:15 -- Advantages Of Open-Handed Playing
5:38 -- The Hi-Hat Never Stops (Demo)
6:27 -- More Advantages Of Open-Handed Drumming
8:21 -- Disco's Impact On Open-Handed Drumming
9:39 -- The Biggest Hurdle To Open-Handed Drumming
10:46 -- Conclusions
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
Virtuoso. So cool to see him still nailing "Give Blood" note for note 35 years later !
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.
"Give Blood" is one the most energetic and kick arse drum beats ever... Simon Phillips is the best.
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..
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.😀
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.
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 🥁
Simon is a genius, doctor drums. Best sounding drummer ever!
Always learning with Simon!
Simon’s playing has always been inspiring.
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 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.
That was the best drumming video in a while. Making it look so easy always motivates me to try. (And I know it's not as easy as he makes it look...) Great stuff!
Excellent video as always from Simon!👌
I've recently transitioned to playing mostly open-handed, also inspired by Simon Phillips, and it is very nice to have those sticks out of the way of each other.
Simon is a legendary drummer!
absolutely love Simon Philips, he's an amazing drum teacher.
I’ve always been an open handed drummer this gives me reassurance to really work on my craft Thankyou !
Beautiful tone on his Kit 👌🏻
this is a great insight in a part that made Simon stand out in the industry, how to confront obstacles in your playing and break those barriers... and that just because he wanted it to look great 😅!...amazing
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.
That was incredible!!
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've played like that for over 25 years, and it makes a big difference in feel, and ideas.
My favorite drummer of all time 💖
Wonderfully explained. I do both open handed and cross handed at the same time in my gigs I play in
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.
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.
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!
This was such an informative and incredible video keep ‘em coming
I love Simon's playing and personality.
great lesson
Great content
The remote hi hat did it for me
About 10 years ago I discovered ambidextrous drumming via Mike Mangini. As a lefty, this made sense, but, I never considered my leftism to be an asset in drumming. Why, because we live in a right dominant world. At one point I set up 2 kits, one right the other left and gave that a shot. But, being left handed on a left facing kit was way too weird at my age, plus, no open mics catered to this setup. Now, I play both open and crossed handed, with the intent of converting to fully open handed playing by the New Year. This is true freedom Simon. It's good to be left handed!
My favorite drummer of ALL times. He‘s the greatest!
I started open handed 40 years ago after seeing Simon and Billy doing it. I had a lot of toms at that time, so Simon’s explanation now makes perfect sense. Another benefit is that I can switch limbs if one is getting tired.. they become a sort of tag team, although I also occasionally suffer from not switching brain hemispheres quickly enough when switching limbs. Of course to do both your hi hat has to be high enough for right handed playing.
Simon Phillips is easily one of the 5 best drumers that drumeo invited
Very cool... followed him since MSG !!!
I love his drumming and I love his talking about drums, one of my favourite musicians and teachers!
And of course I am grateful to Drumeo for bringing this to me for the price of watching some ads - which I do. Worth it!
Just one leeetle thing - too many video edits :) or rather - unnecessary ones. 06:52 for example - cutting right when the fill starts is just disrupting Simon’s point here. Either shot would have done fine for this segment.
But apart from that (and I may be the only one who minds!) this is so nice to have - thank you!
I had recently though about "reconfiguring" my lead hand... Interesting timing for this video, thank you
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.
Amazing story by the legend. I suggest you all listen to the album of Kings Of Mercia as well.
First saw him live in 1980 and he's been a favorite ever since.
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!
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’m not a musician or drummer either. Just stumbled upon this. Very fascinating and interesting! You rock brother!!!
I have been away from the kit for years due to overuse injuries in my left hand. Currently re-approaching it teaching both hands to lead. I have the ride of my left and the hats on the right. Going well so far.
So my kid watched this video, then started to play "Purple Haze" open handed, and was like--oh wow, totally better. The video's message was immediately effective!
Thank you for going over this topic. I am learning drums and trying to figure if better open or close. I feel more comfortable open; like you said it leaves right hand to lead. My left hand is my weak side and have not started to work on kick drum yet. All your demonstrations are great.
Yess I went ambidextrous and open-handed around 10 years ago and found the same benefits! For faster stuff I tend to revert to closed hand, there's still that bit of discomfort with the left and it's making my life harder than it needs to be. But having the right playstyle for different situations is great.
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!
His dynamics are insane. So many little notes accented with huge power
Thank you sir, from musician to musician..
Do'ly noted and applied.
On musicianship!!!
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.
Simon is such a legend.
That shirt is so accurate in regards to how his brain must partition itself in realtime when he plays like that. Jesus he's amazing.
I started playing drums left handed and just change to right handed its the best thing I ever did now I can sit on a kit that set up left or right and love it I should have done it sooner
Thank You 🙌✊🙌
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.
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!
FANTASTIC
Awesome drummer
I'm an ambidextrous drummer as well. I first started playing with my left hand so it's pretty strong and recently been trying drumming out with my right hand but still developing it.
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.
Can you do a video of Simon playing the full version of "Give Blood"? I could watch it all day......
Fantastic
great video
Talented guy. Ambidexterity is generally a natural gift and difficult to teach one’s self. 👌
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
my natural comfort as a child learning to play was to play open handed, but on a "right hand" standard kit setup, using my right foot as a lead kick drum foot, but starting all double bass patterns with my left foot, always thinking left-to-right. never made any sense to me any other way, and as I developed more and studied players I realized how weird I was for it. spent a lot of time working on building the ability to play standard right hand leading, so I could be more like the rest of the drummers I loved. I'm glad I did because it inadvertently built ambidexterity I am now so thankful for. I used to think it was a curse I had to overcome, until I found Simon and he showed me it was actually a gift I should develop even further.
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 started drumming open handed in the 80’s because of Simon! Still have the ride cymbal on the right though!
Awesome 👍🏿😎
Loving those new beats coming from America!
This resonated with me. I started out playing left hand lead and righty with the foot. It felt natural to me even though I was a righty. The challenge for me was moving my ride cymbal from the left side to the right side to become fully open handed. Now I switch lead hands on the fly. I also try to learn all beats righty and lefty. I eventually added a ride back on the left side to spice things up. Now I think I should put a set of hihats on the right side, lol. Cheers, Mr. Philips
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! :)
This was great. I first started on drums, I was left-handed with mostly everything in life, but the people teaching me couldn’t be bothered to switch the right-handed kit to a left-handed kit Every time they gave me lessons, so I just had to learn how to play Right-handed. I always wondered about an open hand configuration, but I always seemed to come across very traditionalist drum teachers, who were very adamant about the right and wrong way to drum. I am from a punk rock background, so as far as I’m concerned, there is no right and wrong way to play music as long as it sounds good. This was a great video.
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?
GIVE BLOOD, wowza, I had forgotten that track, it all makes sense seeing Simon spank this out.
I received my first drum set when I was around 10 years old. It was the same year MTV started and I certainly didn't have access to it at that time.
I am right-handed, but since I never saw anyone play the drums before I started using my left hand on the hi-hat. Sometime over the next couple of years one of my brothers sat down on my kit and started playing and they were playing cross with the right hand lead on the hi-hat. I thought this was the strangest thing.
I started practicing with right-hand lead and found it very difficult at first. Good thing I was young so I adapted quickly. I have since played mostly with my right leading, but I have maintained some decent ability to lead with my left.
I would encourage new players to play both ways and get as much independence as they can.
I'm always amazed to see Simon play. He is amazing.
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.
I only started playing a few months ago, I play the same way. I tried the normal way, it felt unatural to me. Glad I am by far not the only one. Thanks for the encouragement
I actually prefer open hand though it is a bit confusing at first, especially when switching hands between the hi-hat and ride.
I am a righty that learned on a left. I play open handed all the time. It also looks cool to switch right to left, left to right
Made the switch 10 years ago thanks to Simon, best thing I’ve ever done. I changed my whole lifestyle around my left hand, brushing my teeth, picking up objects, boxing, training. Left all day, all the time.
thanks!
I'm right handed but the first time I sat on the kit, playing open handed felt natural and thats what i stuck to 🤙🏼
WOW. Similar case and exactly same process and learning curve
That is also what I practice a lot to game up the fills and feels. The open handed way. I have ton of my favorite drummers who uses the open handed way:Gene Hoglan, Mike Smith, Billy Cobham, Simon Phillips, Claus Hessler, etc
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💜💯⭐🎰🌎🙏.
Because it "opens" up your mind to new possibilities.
Loved him in Toto
What a legend....