Steve Smith explains the 4 basic drum parts of don't Stop(requested)

[CJM4430]

Hey i grew up with him nice guy

[CoolThisIsMyUsername]

HAIR !

[enok1968]

Awesome ,, just awesome.

[ggill1970]

of course these are genius drum parts. i also love these as a teaching system for myself to think melodically within a tune. and especially to keep my open-handed chops up. try this groove at 140 or 160 where your LH is more like 16th at 70 or 80. gets pretty interesting & i am trying to work this up to 200.

[nakedtommygun]

That was great. Thanks for posting it. 

[MrHeitz17]

A genius. I'm just sad he had to lose his hair... Now he looks like Howie Mandel. No, wait. Howie Mandel looks like him.

[meccaturbo]

@MrHeitz17 Who the fuck cares if he lost his hair....he's still a great drummer. Man dude, you are a fucking moron.

[dduem]

Bitchin glasses

[Kidzanda]

HAIRRRRRRRRRRRR...LOLOLOLOLOLO­L

[VoicesEchoes1]

God he sure makes it look easy!

[geometricpatterns6]

I remember hearing a drum solo of Steve's from a TV concert back when I was 12 years old or so, his playing just had something to it others didn't and then I heard him with Tony McAlpine years later playing a lot heavier. He has such a consistent ability to rock the pulse that doesn't get in the way of the music and propels the song with a monster feel. Been following his career ever since.

[firstmusic00]

Damn...I always wondered how he did that without missing a beat on the hat. Now I know.

[Queeze101]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! IT ALL MAKES SENSE!!! On such short notice, my friends wanted me to play this song on drums for the spring concert at our school. On top of that, I just started in percussion, but I learn pretty fast. First I tried making up a simple beat that fits, but when i listened to the song, I wanted to sound like the real thing. I had it all wrong, but you herlped me figure it all out. THANKS!!!!!!!!!

[ThrowingItAway]

if you're hats on your right and snare on your left and want to switch it up try starting with a tambourine in your left hand it really gets you started rather than struggling on drums first

[larzaify]

How does one achieve that 80's snare sound? Is it just incredibly gated? Snare drum does not sound like that.

[Bananapuddinpie]

@larzaify Mostly it's just a really low tuning, miced.

[Bananapuddinpie]

@larzaify Mostly it's just a really low tuning, wooden snare, miced.

[TheDice2008]

Charts please....more easier..i wanna sight read it

[FirebrandNIRE]

He's a Drumming Legend

[spacitydrummer4JC]

Is this when he was a math teacher?

[Billnipp1]

what a nerd! hahahaha

[kevinwbrowning]

@Billnipp1 The coolest nerd ever.

[lastdaysguitar]

I've witnessed Steve in concert for about 3 decades and he's truly a masterful drummer... he doesn't just play, he creates an atmosphere for the song.

[TheImpressionable]

By the way he plays the song, you really get the feeling of how playing open handed can open the the kit.

[Aaronjiski]

Steve smith is so damn good its scares me. He seems so humble and doesnt mess around with image and stuff he just wants to make good music.

[Aaronjiski]

its a BBBBEEEAUUT!

[Squishay1]

i probably watched this video and listened to the song 100 times before i got the song right and after a lil while i put my own spin on it. The video will come up as soon as i find the cord to my camera but steve smith is probably my biggest insperation to drumming

[jackcasse]

God, he makes that look so easy.

[TobacCigO]

his ride sounds cracked to hell

[enzymetab]

Steve you are an artist!!!! only someone like you can make a masterpiece like this on drums.

Great song and great fills.

Nothing more to say......

[zuzanarox]

thanks for what you did with this tune on drums -- the drum part always amazes me, it really completes a classic song

[dwilmer7]

omg i never knew Trevor Horn played drums! Hes pretty good too.

[percman1970]

Some other open handed AMAZING drummers -- Carter Beauford, Simon Phillips, Will Kennedy, Mike Bordin. I have played that way for 30 years and have taught it for 12. Especially with new drummers starting from scratch, there is absolutely no reason to need to cross over the hands. I think in general it is done with the symmetry idea -- right hand, right foot, but if one trains early to switch that it OPENS UP the entire kit.

[bugernet]

@percman1970  Makes a lot of sense ! Starting from the very greats they put the hi-hat on the right and that's how we all do it... Good point!

[obtom1331]

@bugernet i love being able to switch between both. traditional grip i cross, match i play open.

[SOUTHPAW731]

@bugernet it started from way back when they didnt have hi hats , they just had the ride a crash a splash and what not then came the hi hat but it was only played by foot a hinged type contraption soi was on the left side cuz most guys played bass with the right foot ANYWAYZ they had been doin their rythm patterns on the ride which was on the right then when the "sock cymbal " became the hi hat on a stand they just crossed over their arm cuz the rythym patterns were kinda programed

[BassmanII]

One thing you have to remember is there are also alot of drummers who play traditional grip (Smith being one of them). so it necessitates crossing of hands.

[fess04]

@BassmanII i must point out Lenny White plays trad grip and plays open handed.

[lupine73]

@percman1970

Bobby Jarzombek and Gene Hoglan are two others who play open-handed. Though Gene is a thrash-metal drummer, he still pulls off some very intricate stuff that, I think, is only helped by the fact he plays open-handed.

[w9jon]

@percman1970 i kind of agree. But i think you should learn both

[PositivelyBored]

@percman1970

I'm going to disagree. There are absolutely MANY reasons to not start open-handed as a brand new beginner. The most important one - fun. A new drummer wants to have fun. Telling a brand new drummer on their first day you want them to play open-handed and forget everything they know, is not fun. I only teach what the student wants to learn. Otherwise it's a fruitless exercise.

[percman1970]

@PositivelyBored

How can a new student "forget everything they know" if they don't know anything yet? I never force a student into any style of playing. What I do show new students, however, is that one can use either hand to lead. Some stick with that way, some don't. But I never insist or force a left hand lead. I just personally believe it has its advantages, and many of my students have developed their own playing style around it.

[PositivelyBored]

@percman1970

That's fine. I agree with open handed playing having it's advantages as well as being a good learning/ambidextrous effect.

What I don't agree with is thinking a new student "knows nothing".

Even the entry-level beginner, which we've all been, knows SOMETHING and that something usually begins with crossing the hands over on the drumset and playing the snare on two and four, for example..

to think otherwise is pretty arrogant, I think.

[percman1970]

@PositivelyBored

I believe you are just assuming a new student will play a certain way because he or she SEES someone else play that way. There are no rules to playing an instrument. Are you going to tell Carmine Appice he is wrong because he holds one of his sticks between his first and second finger? Of course not. It is the way he developed his own unique playing style. It's not arrogance to present students with alternate ways of approaching an instrument.

[meccaturbo]

@PositivelyBored Dude, you sound like a dumb mofo "expert"....others here have had success with open handed playing, so quit being a whiner about this.

[PositivelyBored]

@meccaturbo

eh.. i am an open-handed drummer as well. the premise was that most beginners don't want to learn it, so i typically do not mention it. If a student comes to me and says "hey can you show me this" I'll gladly give them direction about setting up the kit , and rhythms that are interesting to practice. of course most of it comes from basic rudiment and patterns leading with lh in unison or independently of the bd/rh. again, open handed concept is crucial further along

[meccaturbo]

@PositivelyBored Ok, my mistake.

[carlos0on0drums]

@percman1970 your exactly true. but i play traditional grip. and i prefer to use my (left hand) traditional on the snare. can you explain how to open that up. because the only way is to play on left handed kit which is too late for that. i hope you understand my situation

[jazzfusionsoul]

@percman1970,U forgot the one who actually started this whole open handed drumming thing The Great BILLY COBHAM.

[thomascompton800]

@percman1970 don't forget billy cobham

[poulter5150]

@percman1970 you forgot Mr Billy Cobham

[michaelc383]

I met Steve at a clinic in 1986 and still to this day utilize lessons taught at that clinic! He is a very open and honest musician , willing to share information and ideas without reservation. I have been, and always will be a fan for life of my friend Steve Smith! His extraordinary talent and grace as a musician and a human being are an inspiration everyone should learn from. Thank you for posting this great video!

[bugernet]

@michaelc383 i met Steve at a Sam Ash clinic. WOW ,hearing & seeing Steve play right in front of u is a real treat to say the least. I agree with everything u said! May i also add he is really a nice guy! I had him sign my Roland TD-7 module : D

[marty3699]

@michaelc383 I was at a clinic of his same year in Fitchburg, Mass. Even back then he was so good I couldn't get back behind my kit for months aftewards cuz I was depressed.

[TheAlexBing]

amazing!

[EipasStas]

yeah! and people say why do I play with my left hand. thats why ! ;D

[RaisedOnRadio92]

I play the same way! Everybody says, 'You're doing it wrong!', my reply is, 'Did it sound good?' 'Yes, it sounded fine', 'Then what's wrong?'

[bugernet]

If ur play'n this tune the way Steve is play'n it on this video, then tell'em to put a sock in it LOL !

[bambionsteroids]

OPEN HANDED DRUMMERS RULE!!! i find its the smart way to go, when u think about it, ur hi hat is on the left and ur snare to the right...so why cross ur arms? lol glad to hear there are more open handed drummers ^.^

[bugernet]

@bambionsteroids  I play hi-hat with my right but u should learn to play open hand ! AGREE......

[TheImpressionable]

@bambionsteroids its so your right hand plays in time with your bass drum while you can experimetn with cross rhythms on the snare, but in my opinion there are some songs that suit open handed drumming and some which suit cross handed drumming, you just have to experiment and see which is best for the particular song you are playing

[bambionsteroids]

@TheImpressionable wow i didnt even remember writting on this video lol but yah i started playing close handed a while back since i had to play in this show where the other drummers kit was...well a close handed set up i suppose, and we had no time to swap kits or any room for improvement, so i started playin around with that ^.^

[thejohnlaco]

@bambionsteroids open hand is an amazing way to play! but steve is normally close-handed, but dsb is incredibly hard to play closed handed!

[mikport]

WOw!! Steve smith with hair!!! This man is one of my favorite drummers!! He looks funny with that glasses xD..... big big big musician!!!

[BassmanII]

I take it you never saw him in his Journey days?? ;) XD

[bugernet]

he is the man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sweetfly66]

@mikport ... at the time this video was being made a lot of drummers were wearing these same style glasses .. vinnie for example

[marcinnsz]

Very funny glasses!

One of my favorite drummers ...

[frankenshank]

Steve Smith... WOW!

All I knew about Steve until a few years ago was the solid rock drumming from Journey,

My drummer friend showed me a video of Steve playing jazz with the Buddy Rich Band... I was floored!

Steve is truly a GREAT MUSICIAN!

[Sincopare]

Magic

[mimicry88]

Steve's got such a great feel. I hear the intro when he plays this groove. Love 80's glasses, shirt, and snare sound.

[bugernet]

he'da man 4 sure! he should have been on the top 10 best dressed list : D

[Legokink1]

nice crash i hate people who over use that crash

[Scottjazz55]

Thanks for posting and sharing the infomation. Can use this in my drum lessons.

[rwoods2k]

steve smith is truly a great drummer...but man, is he a nerd.....he kinda has that Paul Schaefer look thing happening in this clip...

[webstercat]

The clip is over 20 years old. You probably weren't born at that time. He was a genius then and now. Who cares what he looks like.

[rwoods2k]

not only was I alive 20 years ago, I was playing drums 20 years ago. thank you very much

[metalmike83]

He looks like a Howie Mendel clone now - or almost like an Anton Lavey Satanist lol...

[bugernet]

Na, he jazzed his look up,at least when he's not play'n......

[bugernet]

Thanx! i thought people would find this post helpful........

[haydondres]

im really glad that you posted this video, as i can tell this is gonna really help me out with my drumming. Its nice to know that even the best start with the basics, and then slowly build it up to the perfect beat.

[drjggood1]

Noob drummer question. Why does Steve Smith look like he is playing eighth notes on the bass when he is really just playing quarter notes. I am sure it is just him keeping time but why the extra movement with the right leg?

[haydondres]

just helps him keep a feel for the beat, he most probably wasnt even aware he was doing it, as it comes so naturally to him.

[DrShrinker]

Thanx for this. I haven't seen the video in years. Still have the VHS around somewhere. Totally forgot about those red Sonorlites.

I met him shortly before this video was made, right after he was laid off from Journey. Amazing man.

[bugernet]

Glad i was able to post sum-thing of interest. I met Smith as well,he really is a great guy!

[wmjoca]

Just another great drummer from Massachusetts

[danbrown4life]

i really like playing this song. but i play the hihat part with my left foot doing 8th notes. so its easier to do more with the hands. just my opinion.

[bugernet]

Thats cool!!! try not to trounce to much over a good tune, don't over play it!.keep on drumming...

[ElRico2525]

This guy doesn't get nearly enough attention. He's easily one of my top 15 drummers all time

[bugernet]

The guy is so nice! im very lucky 2 have met him! sum 1 in here told me he is semi retired.the man is a powerhouse player!!!!!!

[angelo062367]

@ElRico2525 i agree with you, steve smith is a great drummer, he was a big part of what help'd make journey as great as they were

[bea5ToloG]

damn right, "that beat takes care of business."

[ggill1970]

beautiful drum part. top 5 for me. "clever ways of making it more interesting...for myself & for the song itself and the listeners" = genius

[udreksuh]

I wonder why this vid has fewer views than the other drummers covering this song with the wrong ride patterns. Go to the source, I always say.

[michaelisajerk]

Smitty rules but he looks like he's wearing Groucho Marx funny glasses

[sanshuz]

Jees! he looks like a real nerdy dude in this.

[gooberschnot]

I always thought he flammed on the toms but it turns out it's an illusion with the bass drum and the tom hit together! Steve is a genius!

[w1104717]

don't stop believing is coming to rock band as DLC soon.

[sanshuz]

The off beat ride is sick.

[juniperhill1970]

I wish he was my dad. . :-)

[bugernet]

yeah Steves son is LUCKY!

[sgtpepper1138]

he has a house up here in Oregon (i've heard it's in Ashland) I went to the closest guitar center (medford) and I guess I had just missed him

[bugernet]

Wow 2 bad u just missed seeing Steve he is really a nice guy!!!!!!

[grunnfunk]

I'm really looking forward to the songs!!

[bugernet]

I've got 1 ready 2 upload so look 4 it in the next day or 2.Y/T is wig'n on uploads right now...

[grunnfunk]

Would be nice if the instrumental songs of Vital Information, from his old drum video, were on youtube, somebody?

[bugernet]

I think i can help u here!

[xxdarkdevilxxi]

thats amaizing

i like it and he's the best XD

[bugernet]

He is and i have more on the way...

[VeriSheri]

Very interesting video. Thanks ROR for sending me the link!

[mistifers]

Nice, Smitty!

[bugernet]

Smitty is the best :)

[REDDATT302008]

Thank you for sharing this with me very cool to see!!

[bugernet]

any time! I think im gonna post more of this.every one seems to like it...

[katnip9]

Interesting!

Thanks ROR for sending this my way. I always thought Steve Smith was very talented on the drums. He has a drum solo on the Journey Houston Concert on dvd. Also on that solo, it really showcases his drums.

[bugernet]

Steve is one of a kind! im gonns post more of this...

[Jeanne2U]

I've always loved watching him play the drums for Journey... I've wondered how he could keep the beat going with Steve dancing all over the place and standing in front of him while Neal was doing his thing. He is an excellent drummer! Thanks for posting this video, it was very interesting.

[bugernet]

When Journey was Journey I would have loved to be on that stage!

[Gallagrl]

This was brilliant to see Smitty in action at his finest. Wow - the guy can rock the skins!

Thanks for this JJ.- this was so cool!

[RaisedOnRadio92]

Very, very cool. I often wondered how he'd incorporate some of his beats into Journey's music. I guess that explains alot of it! Thanks for sharing this!

[beakys]

Very interesting. Thanks for passing this along. Steve Smith is an excellent drummer!!

[bugernet]

Ever one seems 2 like this video i will have 2 post more!

[LouddrummerO]

Very interesting post JJ. I like how he is allowed to create within a basic foundation. Freedom of expression is what all drummers want!

Do you have drum clinic vids of Steve Smith?

[hughman174]

that was cool and steve doesn't even look like himself. he looks way "cooler" now. lol

[bugernet]

Yeah he does. But he's 1 heck of a drumming FORCE!!!!