Simon Phillips Polymetric Groove | Study The Greats

In this episode of Study The Greats, we will be breaking down an epic polymetric groove from an old solo by the legendary drummer, Simon Phillips.
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Pearl | Meinl | Vic Firth | Earthworks

[@KungFuJunky]

Disappointed you didn't pull your socks over your jeans for this one. Attention to detail Austin! ;)

[@abbdrums]

haha... I need a pair of Pearl Spandex pants to really pull it off.

[@KungFuJunky]

I would crowdfund the shit outta that!

[@rydergrimes6696]

Austin Burcham haha and a running headband

[@antisocialite927]

One of the best drum instruction vids I've seen on KZbin. Great work.

[@MatthewClise]

Another layer of complexity comes from the dynamics, too. The ostinato could be considered mezzo piano while the right hand groove is definitely forte. He's really asserting that right hand part.

[@EvilSonicVersonX]

WHERE IS THE MMMMMMMMM

[@christofferolsson4002]

Nasty!

[@drumchefhubdad8698]

Had to sit down right away and learn this one. Simon is one of the greats and I have learned a boatload off him. It's basically the same groove as the electric drums part of Neil Peart's solo in the late part of his career.

[@JeffRandallDrumming]

Awesome job Austin! Really enjoyed this.

[@abbdrums]

Thanks Jeff :)

[@stevenabi5095]

Saw him do this live in the late 80s. BLEW MY MIND. my brain is bleeding from this one!

[@drumtwo4seven]

Spandex Ankle warmers Dotted eighths Over the bar line FKN GEEK

[@Shobas]

I remember when I first nailed this groove. I had been practicing all day on my drumpad just to get the coordination down of the hands, but I never managed to do it. Later that day, as I was going to sleep, I played the groove with my hands on my bed, and boom, nailed it.

[@kimstewart9152]

I had a similar experience. I Play 5 string banjo and I had been trying to work out a difficult intro, trying to get the correct 3 finger troll pattern, using the correct finger to stay in time. I struggled, then an idea came to me as I woke up one morning, I air picked the rolls as I laid in bed. I picked the banjo a little later and boom that was it.

[@shottisimo1]

I remember watching this DCI video when it came out way back when I was a kid. My dad is a drummer and had many DCI videos. It was exciting to watch this groove! I remember how cool it sounded when he threw the 4/4 beat in on this!!

[@jazzmartyrs]

Simon incorporated this into his solo with Toto every night back when he was touring with them.

[@darkkevindu6982]

No, he incorporated this solo just in livefields

[@robinkulbay]

Dark Kevin Du 69 He actually did it pretty much the whole Mindfields tour, and at certain solos in various other tours as well.

[@just82much51]

@@darkkevindu6982 Ive never come across him doing it in any of the videos I have watched and there have been A LOT, but I haven't seen anything from Minefields / Livefields. I will definitely look for it!!!! Thanks!!!

[@darkkevindu6982]

@@just82much51 All lives I see this groove (with timecods) : kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipmwqmmkmbCgp9E (this one is without octobans) kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGSsoaRorphkbLc kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4eUcqWibL9lgtU And livefields : kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6LRZqOOhq2GbMk

[@randydoak6638]

This groove has become an obsession for me. I don't have the octobons but I'm using LP granite blocks on the left side. It's not up-to-speed yet and I can only get through a couple of the 3-measure cycles before losing it... but some day.

[@godbluffvdgg]

If you can imitate Simon you should consider yourself a beast! :)....As a drummer for 40 years and seeing Simon, with Beck 10th Row at the Philly Spectrum...I've followed his career for decades...When that Super Drumming VHS came out in the 80's, I was right on it...I think it cost like 30 bucks...LOL.. His drum battle with Louie Bellson was so sick! I just saw a video recently with HIM VS BILLY COBHAM VS ART BLAKEY!..I wish we had youtube in those days...His fairly recent stuff with Hiromi - trio was killer...She was one of the few musicians that can match his speed...:)...Thanks for the upload!

[@jackfreestone4592]

That main snare drum sounds beautiful! Great job

[@gsxerwhite]

I remember being blown away by this on a zildjian promo video back in the late 90’s. It was free at Chuck Levin’s!

[@refractorhead]

me too! I got this vhs back in the early 90s

[@KONAMAN100]

Never seen that SP groove before wow. The visual aspect plus physicality adds massive impact, that big drum is like a cannon going off. Tremendous groove. The white socks are icing on the cake.

[@rsmittee]

I love Simon Phillips, and you did an awesome job with that. Thank you! I know how I'll be spending my weekend.

[@somitto]

thanks you so much, very interesting exercice.

[@Sugarsail1]

I think I'll stick to rubbing my belly while patting my head. I can do that.

[@just82much51]

That’s hilarious and gave me a good laugh!! Maybe I should just do the same!! 😂

[@colinsweeney2366]

That was soooo bad ass! Nicely done Austin. No further orchestration even necessary over that killer ostinato! Wicked groove! I kept hearing Simon’s cymbal hits on the 1 & 3 though but I guess you’re right it could be displaced equally either way, but man keeping track of the one over a 3 measure resolution with that Floor Tom right hand snare orchestration is truly a mental challenge even for well coordinated drummers. Sounds like something Terry Bozzio would come up!

[@abbdrums]

Yea it's a tough one! If you count out the 16th's from when he starts the ostinato, the cymbal hits come in on 2 and 4 but if you just jump into that section w/o counting, your ear tends to hear it as 1 and 3. That was happening to me too so I had to count it out to see where they were haha.

[@just82much51]

Every couple months, I keep coming back to watch this. This is my favorite groove and thanks to Austin, I just might be able to learn it...I hope!!😂 Austin, this is a GREAT breakdown! Thanks so much for sharing it. You’re awesome man!!

[@RoeShamBoe]

i bought both "Simon Phillips" and "Simon Phillips Returns" on VHS(!) from Guitar Center for 39.99 each. I completely wore the tapes out.

[@stephenmerchant8633]

Cool. Nice work! Thanks for breaking it down!

[@Александр-ч5м9о]

Nice job, Austin. Thanks!

[@ywas123]

I appreciated how you transcribed the ostinato pattern as three repeating bars of 4/4 with sixteenth notes and not just one repeating bar of 3/16 with the “impact” groove on top of it. I think the way you interpreted the music made this more digestible.

[@fab5296]

Awesome lesson!!

[@marcelovazz9039]

Thanks for sharing this is Amazing mate ! 🙂👍👍👍

[@driggerfireon5760]

Very good work. Thx

[@ajriding]

Those "triplets" on the feet are hard to keep steady as the measures continue. Glad to see Im not the only one whose feet stray off ;) Concepts like this you can play with for months and months by just making small changes where your left hand goes or changing one note on the right hand Good job

[@Juupke]

Great video, more Simon Phillips please! I would like to know the groove off nimbus for instance greetings

[@DidYouReadEULA]

Learned a lot, thank you!

[@The_Caesar6186]

Great work of coordination I enjoy this great video waiting soon to study the great Elvin Jones, Thanks

[@gregparrott]

Bad ass groove? Speaking of understatements.....

[@MattHernandezDrums]

use to jam to this dvd and all his song all the time when i was younger! This, and Todd Sucherman's first DVD were two of the biggest inspirations in my playing! Thanks so much for covering one of the greatest drum/musical performances ever Austin! Cheers!

[@paulbentley2709]

Great work Austin...

[@jeffsavaryego2366]

Thanks Austin, phenomenal lesson as always.

[@calirusku]

GREAT JOB Austin

[@phutureproof]

I don't know what it is about this clip of Simon Phillips that stands out but my god that's one hell of a rhythm

[@alphagodchessenmuscles4747]

Ja, this and Dennis Chambers halftime shuffle using hi hat and ride are the the coolest grooves on the KZbins.

[@Kjodienda]

Great job on tackling yet another one of those "alien" drummers man. What's really unique about Simon Phillips is that he is completely ambidextrous - or at least that's what I got out one of his interviews. I'm not sure if that means he can switch to southpaw on a whim, but it sure as hell makes him capable. By the way, now that you let one octopus out of the aquarium, maybe it's time for you to break down a groove by Horacio El Negro Hernandez...

[@reggtop]

Thank you So much That was GORGEOUS

[@Ceyx100]

Great job Austin ! Once more, I've discovered both a drummer and a great groove. You're good at explaining things, very pro. Thanks.

[@ARDrummer]

Awesome lesson! Such a cool and creative groove

[@groovehog1]

Great vid, thanks for posting! These types of things really help stretch the brain as well as coordination!

[@davidlatimer3091]

You mean from his old VHS tape back in the day haha!!

[@just82much51]

Well done Austin!!! Well done!!!! Thanks so much for sharing this!! That is such a bad-a$$ groove. Simon’s talent just blows me a way and the fact that you can play it says a lot about your playing!!! I found you on KZbin and am looking fwd to watching a lot more of your stuff!!!!

[@ndzick718]

That was sick. Another great job, Austin.

[@watergraffiti]

Amazing how the 16ths got clearer once adding the 2 and 4 cymbal! One would think it would complicate adding a part. ( which it still does!)....Thanks I learn a lot from your videos, cheers!

[@nilsonfilho432]

Oh boy! That was inspiring! I'll try that for sure

[@KevWhitehead]

Another fabulous video Austin! When I learned this I had to write the hands pattern out in 16's, that seemed easier for me!! Thanks again!

[@magicalmixer5453]

Badass lick. Sure you don't have the octodrums, but you could definitely orchestrate it over the two rack toms. If you want to add some flash, depending on the size of your kit, you could always cross-arms on the (a) of 2 and on 4 when possible.

[@userplayeraccount]

Awesome job! I love these videos!

[@slingerland3g]

Wow I have Simon's video! Those beats were insane, took many many hours to do for me! I still have issues with his paradiddle snare and bass exercise.

[@NikkiStixx86]

great teacher man!

[@rthyhmmemory11]

I think Simon plays the 16th on the bassdrum constantly throughout the pattern, he often does it that way and it looks like it in the video as well! Otherwise great video, thank you! Definitely thumbs up!

[@martinr7728]

Quite a different style but this reminds me of the song 'Swarm' by Meshuggah. Starts with this triplet idea but then later you realise its just groups of 3 16ths. Sounds super cool in context

[@chadiabouzeiddrumming2062]

Thanks man its really beautiful... I played it .. But on a single pedal.. I felt that its harder but it worked..... But gonna try it on a double pedal also.. Your drumming is awesome btw.. Thanks again for your lessons

[@ahmeteminerbay5095]

Amazing dude thanks lot

[@RogierRJDonker]

Austin... you're a beast! Awsome!

[@MasonLynass]

Thanks for doing this one! I've never seen this groove before but it reminds me of a fun multi-percussion piece I've played before. Side by Side - Michio Kitazume

[@rydergrimes6696]

Hey Austin great lesson imma big SP fan. But can we maybe have a study the greats over Jeff Porcaro ???

[@Laiserball8]

Woah nice groove! Great job breaking it down, thanks a lot! I‘ll definitely try it out =)

[@rafaomar4924]

Thanks you!

[@tjthorn9703]

Wow that was great!

[@michelaraujo4375]

Never clicked faster! Pretty badass, Austin, nicely done. But i sure miss your signature "HMM" haha

[@alexbaum2204]

Wish you could have showed this with just one foot as well. I know it’s not what he’s doing, but it would help up the anti a little bit. Not all of us use double bass or double kicks, but we can get our doubles up to snuff as a result. You then had high hat to the mix with your left foot and you can be doing some pretty rad shit.

[@vicjames2743]

Very cool. Love to listen to Bleed by Meshugga. Polyrhythms galore

[@1jpdrums]

Your drums sound really good.

[@cayres5803]

Well played that man!

[@toddc2788]

Stellar!!

[@theandiller]

Awesome!!!

[@derikandreoli5177]

Mind blown.

[@joegabinojg104]

This guy is awesome, he has the ability to spread confidence and he makes difficult things look easy. ¡Hurra for you Austin!

[@daviddockery20]

Love it. His drum duet with Gavin Harrison is so sick and I think he does this at some point during it too. By the way what's your HH clutch? Looks lovely!

[@abbdrums]

It's the Pearl Rapid Lock Super Grip Clutch... I love it.

[@ericpalmero]

Yes! he does.. but the cymbals are in an other patron, i think on 1; matches the pulse of the metronome in this case when Austin plays it.. brain training

[@malcolmlarri9073]

well done !

[@ricardogonhin]

I bought that VHS of Simon ages ago and that groove was one of the first things I had to figure out, great job Austin! Not sure if the variations Simon did with the gong drum were intentional or not, I think you approached it correctly. You may just have to get some octobans now to get the full Simon experience!

[@abbdrums]

I know right! I wish I had some... I'm up for the challenge haha

[@Super17seconds]

Hi Austin, I for one are glad you simply orchestrated to a side snare (snare off) and floor tom. Great video.

[@daveplenty5495]

Sounding great Austin.

[@Awegodjuldk]

Awesome job, and thanks for the transcription it really helps xD

[@hugobolon269]

Hey Austin, could you make a tutorial on tuning your snare high as I cannot find any videos online and would love to know how to make a snare sound great, love your videos keep it up!

[@timmydodd1978]

Hey Austin, just an observation, but are you strictly a traditional grip player? Lemme know how you went about practicing it with regarding rim shots and double stokes. Thanks! Awesome video!

[@imacashew.]

Thomas Lang did a similar thing a few years ago at the meinl drum festival. It’s a really cool idea, I love it 🤘🏻❤️

[@wandimarco1577]

Awesome

[@leeirwindrums2765]

Damn ..Simon is such a fucking monster

[@Geronimo122]

Well done!

[@newtonleal1925]

Amazing 👏🏽🥁❤️

[@juliocontagro]

Nice job! Nice snare sound. By the way, which size are these snares ? Tks!

[@HenkJanDrums]

Great!

[@FrankPCarpi]

Thanks for the breakdown of a really nice sounding Simon Phillips groove. Well done Austin! I would guess that it took you some time to get it down for yourself, before you could share it.

[@fredrikbjork4987]

Great video Austin 💪

[@zombieman1221]

Omar Hakim's Evans Performance video for the UV1's! Start at 2:54! Insane and I'd love to see a video with Omar!

[@hansgrueber8169]

I think having the four octobans doing the ostanatto pattern, would tend to keep you better locked in on the 3 notes in 4/4.

[@krthkh]

after a long time

[@drewconlin9452]

You do a fantastic job. But polymeric would indicate the piece could be counted in 2 or more meters 4:/4 , 3/4 etc What am I missing? Again awesome job.

[@abbdrums]

Well, I've done exhaustive research on this and from what I've learned, a polymeter is just 2 different time signatures playing simultaneously which take a certain number of measures to resolve together again on the 1. In this case, the ostinato is in 3/16 while the right hand groove is in 4/4 and it takes 3 full measures before they resolve together which is why I classify this as more of a polymetric groove than polyrhythmic or anything else. These terminologies are always being debated though so who knows haha.

[@drewconlin9452]

Interesting and I think not wrong perhaps there is more than one definition. A colleague has written several etudes in which the entire piece can be counted in more than one meter..... Anyway I thoroughly enjoy your stuff and try to apply what bits of it I can digest. And I find your answer very satisfying.

[@flyingsteaks]

Hey Austin, just wanted to add that I came to the same conclusion as you after all the research I did

[@abbdrums]

Good to know :)

[@cymbalsjefen]

Loved this episode. Is there a specific reason for leading with the left foot?

[@Staazle]

Great as always! You should do more on Tony Williams or Marcus Gilmore!

[@MrLevent79]

Another great video Austin. Are those Regal Brian Tichy sticks?

[@abbdrums]

Vic Firth Benny Greb Signatures

[@Metzok]

Awesome videos! How do make the on screen notation work together with your playing

[@loganpierce3163]

I know he plays this with the left foot lead. But is it cause he's left handed? Or is he just open handed?

[@hugolafhugolaf]

Those old solos by SP are epic. His newest ones are more subtle and refined, one could say, but boring as hell. That was simply amazing.

[@jtf9670]

yeah SP has already proven himself decades ago,

[@conor4181]

Could anyone explain Simon Philips fill in Africa Live at 3:27? It's definitely worth checking out if you havent heard it!