Simon Phillips - Playing 7/4

[Drumzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

never go 7/8 keep it 7/4 beast.

[foamysqueak11]

These songs sound like they're from a video game or something, they're catchy :D

[Schwarze1989]

@Audi0Phil They're called Octobans and he uses them quite extensively.

[Buddymissyou]

SImon Phillips plays odd meter as fluently as he does even meter. He's a monster. And such a nice guy. No ego here, I can assure you.

[DummkopfRadar]

strange, for me its easier to count 8 and 6...

[daveccles]

8/8



[Jabarichonicles]

4/4+3/4

he puts the rhythm in the four and uses the octobons on the fills within the 7/4

[efretzlorent]

7/4

Simon is awesome

[kewlfonz]

Jesus H Christ—What a drummer...

[huwandgill]

a load of boring shite

[drumminginchicago9]

I just love Simons approach to drumming always innovating and never sounding the same twice hes like has two brains in his head playing that kit!!

[tkr626]

Simon Phillips put Judas Priest on the Map with the Sin after Sin album. The album still rocks for being over 30 years old!

[chillichomper]

Best drummer Judas Priest ever had!

[jsbattlenet]

@chillichomper Simmon Phillips played for Judas Priest? Wow I never known that before.

[hickrystyk]

@jsbattlenet He's played for Judass Toto, The Who, Michael Schenker group....and real heavy session drummer.......he's awesome

[EXTIQUE]

@chillichomper WOW,,THAT'S CLEARLY AN UNDERSTATEMENT,,,??

[emman1m1]

Fantastic

[marko92pn]

I am having difficulty just counting along...I can only imagine how difficult it would be for me to impro while playing.

[generalbullmoose]

It feels more like 14/8 (there really is a difference, math majors). Still, sounds great.

[jessesainthimmel]

@generalbullmoose I agree, I'm definitely getting more of a 14/8 vibe. Either way it's awesome.

[CocaineRubish]

@jessesainthimmel correct me if I am wrong, but if it was in 14/8, each beat would be worth an eighth note, and this doesnt sound phrased 14 beats to each measure. maybe you are thinking of time signatures as: the 14 describes how many eigth notes in each measure where as it should be the 14 describes how many beats are in each measure.

[CocaineRubish]

@jessesainthimmel this just came to mind: you might be hearing the subdivision of the quarter notes which are eighth notes. the drum music is definitely written in 7/4, but the track... who knows. it would be somewhat useless to write it in 14/8 because it is just making a mess of the writing. much more friendly to everyone to write it in 7/4 and subdivide.

[CocaineRubish]

@jessesainthimmel oops excuse me, I said subdivide (dividing the beat twice), where I should have said divide (dividing the beat once).

There's your free music theory lesson of the day.

[oikonomidis1]

2 2 3

[tamaman65]

No question, It is without a doubt 7/4 

[Joselo1693]

the only thing i have in my head is: 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-3...

[xxxPinkyGSterxxx]

@Joselo1693 You've got a long way to go my friend...

[c0d3x001]

love his playing in this aswell as the sound of his kit here, especially the crazy octoban sound :D

[c0d3x001]

@robariens do you mean ...for what he contributed? because he didn't really do any tributes

[AleX0002]

Gotta love those pants

[JMartinsATV]

Ohhh this is a very clever 7/4. The keyboard plays during 6 marks, and mutes the last mark. This makes you feel groovy, for the sense of a 6/4 with a little drum break at the end. Anyine can listen to this and pick up a good feel of an otherwise odd time signature

[Phergan]

This guy was so far ahead of his time back then.

[mal441]

absolutly fabulous, the guys a genius, gotta love Simon Philips.

[bearinwolfsfur]

this tune seems perfect for an 80s movie montage.

[jonorocko1]

True Genius. Simon Phillips is one of the best session drummers in the world.

[iamcraiger]

@jonorocko1 indeed.. prodigy

[BootBazaar]

What blows me away is not just his amazing drumming, but the fact that he is totally ambidextrous. He switches back and forth between right hand lead and left hand lead and you can't even hear a difference, that is very, VERY hard to do... It's like trying to write with your "off hand" just as well as you can write with your dominant hand. Phillips is a true master in every sense of the word!

[mprimecoleman]

Head band: check. Spandex: check. Sweet 80's track: check. Awesome: check.

[lacrimassprofundere]

his head is a FFFUUUU**** methronome

[drummerboy11695]

i tried to somewhat play this groove....i fail miserabley haha...he is an absolutely phenomenal drummer

[nengstro]

0:16  When he switches back and forth leading with his right and left arm!! OMG! Thought only mike mangini could do that! Simon rose on my drum ranking just by that...

[shaygahweh]

I'm 20 and when I grow up I want to be like Simon Phillips! Hahaha.

[CkSandwich]

@Allplussomeminus.

true, very true

[NiM00re]

great vid ...

why the fuck does the footcam allways first turn on when the interesting part has just passed?

[Allplussomeminus]

When you get THAT good, you don't really think about numbers, you just FEEL it.

[deeppurple1994]

@Allplussomeminus I don´t think, that he "only" feels it... Simon thinks in numbers and patterns the whole time. If you watch his videos, but also live gigs with Toto you can easily recognize that he "only" plays patterns again and again(modificated), he´s a true genius at that! Amazing.

[blackpearl961963]

It´s amazing how he changes hands on the hihat left-right-left...

[nazzare79]

incredible technique...

[girotube]

This is a 7/4 people.. If it was 7/8 the pattern would be shorter.

Read these counts while playing the video and dought no more..

7/4 pattern count 1/4 : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 > 1/4 click Bar breakdown:1 2 3 4 1 2 3

7/8 pattern count 1/8 : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7> 1/8 click Bar breakdown 1 2 1 2 1 2 3

[girotube]

NO ONE can make those OCTOBANs and GONE DRUM sound like SP makes them sound.

That Gone drum is just frigging awesome.. And no matter the Tama model, his tuning is always the same..

[emiel4sma]

well, isn't 7/4 and 7/8 the same thing?

[girotube]

@emiel4sma YES AND NO!

7/4 is longer which is the case here..

And 7/8 is shorter 

[clanbj]

lone 1:30-1:31

[nimajnebenneb]

eh, this is a 7/8

[RandomlyDrumming]

@nimajnebenneb:

I think it's definitely 7/4.

[aihoschema]

@RandomlyDrumming no doubt: 7/4 with 16th subdivision. If you try to clap to it in 7/8 it's not easy, because this is clearly felt: 4/4 plus 3/4 (not the other way around).

[9995655]

i dont like the music, but god he is sooo amazing!!

[DeejayCoolja]

whats this background groove

where can i get it from?

[Trumavarium]

I love that hi-hat. >_<'

[BogusDonut]

He has got rhythm, but no dress sense. :D

[rydlas]

Crazy odd... awesome drummer...

[samsoft9390]

is jogging his sideline? he looks one.. lol.. but love him...

[BogusDonut]

@samsoft9390 lol, was just thinking that

[Jez2008UK]

That's wonderful !!!

I love watching and listening to Simon.

[Iplaydrums2112]

What a master.... Not fair

[mapexmac]

The riff at 1:30 is pure Simon brilliance! Artistry meets technique. Stylistically smooth and blazingly entertaining.

[Mainseeker]

So, it works^^

It's a 7/4 and a 6/4. Or you can count it too as a 13/4 :/

But i find the first way easier.

[RHamansProductions]

@Mainseeker Uhhhmmm..... His name is Simon Phillips --> You're argument is invalid

[theintrepidfox1969]

A true procussion master at work, not just a drummer !

[julianisdope]

awesome playing but whatsup with the richard simmons outfit

[beatcrazy14]

He's is definitely one of the best drummers who ever lived.

[theintrepidfox1969]

@beatcrazy14

Any drummer can be fast and flashy but true skill costs so much more.

Simon, Carl Palmer, Cozy Powell, Carmen Appice.

Even if you dont like a particular song, for example Rosanna by Toto, just listen to it and hear the feeling in it.

You will be a better musician for it.

[beatcrazy14]

@theintrepidfox1969 this is true and he definitely has the ability

[boibad12]

simon phillips is extremely good but the background music he used is so corny

[Kidnapper89]

i guess all drummer that watched this video stopped playing

[pasjol]

@Kidnapper89 Inspiring that's what this is :)

[zerosoma33]

impressive.

[sweetfly66]

this is simon phillips at his absolute best ... all the videos of him in this outfit are unbelievable ..... awful outfit , but unbelievable playing ...

[nicoargesp]

pasa de una mano a la otra un mismo ritmo, el del charles al principio, mola mucho

[jch002]

I just noticed he changes hands and keeps the rhythm pattern on the high hat going when he plays the small toms on his left. And his set sounds incredible.

[theintrepidfox1969]

@jch002

Those are called octbons.

The complete set of eight makes one octave ( scale ) of sound, hence the name.

[anishnaube]

I'm blown away!

[votalele]

not bad.....:-))

[isaacvelasquez31]

He used to seat pretty low

[curtiswcole]

nice hot pants dude

[sambo75420]

It's almost like he has 4 brains....one for each of his limbs....amazing.....He and Mike Portnoy....Bonham...Pert...etc­......Oh don't forget Keef Moon!

[PacApp5]

that was 7/4? that was more like 7/FUCK.

nice.

[digndrums2003]

Friggen Awesome

[Nato61]

HE practices huh?

[souldiver365]

It´s a pleasure to watch him even if you aren´t a drummer.

[VirusMan254]

It's just mind numbing how well he can play - his beats are just mind-numbingly good!

One of the best drummers in the world.

[Champane97]

Exactly my thoughts souldiver365! the great thing that drummers like Simon Phillips have is the common person can appreciate his ability and to some extent understand what he's playing. Unlike some other drummers (and well known!) that get carried away with how many polyrhythm's they can fit in a bar instead of playing MUSIC!! Simon plays music not chopping at the bits!

[NPC919]

@souldiver365 Even in those ridiculous retro style clothes :L

[girotube]

@NPC919 oooh no you didn't.. LOL

Well boss the video is from 1992. So its Retro awesome alright.!

[TouchingYou]

@souldiver365 ... except for his mullet.

[LeoHareMusic]

This is delightfully deceiving--you anticipate an eighth beat but the next measure begins instead. Amazing.

[drumminginchicago9]

Simon and Weckl would sound great together at a drum clinic

[Trader5822]

This guy is one of the best out there ... awesome !

[joromark]

1:45 Hell yeah!

[ZetaFin]

Ouch!! Oh yeah. Very precise and most important on time!

[Lifesucksdie123]

simon

[Paitsch]

Sweet bass drum roll 0:27.

[Schwarze1989]

Triplet or something similar...

[cowboy0212]

That guy is a fuckin' machine. That's so tight drumming.

[clanbj]

what he does at 1:30 is fantastic

[startrooper64]

i incorporate what he does at 1:30 everyday when i play and no matter what kit it sounds fantastic it's just so simple but so cool!

[ODERFLA1985]

hi man! what he doe's is pretty simple:

they're triplets, the first stroke is with the right hand and the second and third are with the foot it's easier with two pedals. as you see no left hand is required and it's very simple but sounds awesome.

saludos

[extremadrummer]

This shows you how to play independently left and right parts of your brain. Marco Minnemann does the same. Try to divide left and right feet.

[vampiroangelico]

Wow, watching this video, and his other one of him playing in 33/8, I thought the best drummer that ever lived was Dave Weckl, but this guy ain't too far behind Dave, if not at the same level. However, I think both are far better than Mike Portnoy, which is a great drummer, but I find him to be over rated, too stuck in the metal silliness. Matter of fact, my fave DT songs are the mellower, hookier and slower ones.

[JonP1961]

Taking nothing away from MP, Simon's been doing it for something like 20 years longer?

Simon's on my short list, along with guys like Rod Morgenstein, Will Kennedy, Dave DiCenso, Chambers, Williams, White.... I better stop the SHort list is getting longer :D

[vampiroangelico]

LOL you don't like Weckl?

BTW my "short" list includes Dave Weckl, Simon Phillips, Chad Wackermann, Rod Morgenstein, Jeff Porcaro, Alan White, Phil Collins, Dennis Chambers, Nick D'Virgilio (spock's beard)....quite a few versatile drummers more, and after a long while Mike Portnoy and his heavy metal silliness appear in the list as well....whoa, my short list is getting longer as well....

:-)

[JonP1961]

Never said I didn't like him. It's not like Chick picks just anyone to play behind him ;)

Love Collins' stuff with early Genesis and especially his work with Brand X.

[alexmathew09]

I love this vid he looks like he warming up for an olympic swimming event. xD Big Up Simon

[monkeypenios]

tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt­tttttt

[stand4music]

yea simon is so good that he must emmitaded by a drum machine

[oonaboona]

What? . No Ted Nugent or rejects from Biohazard and Skidrow? Simon's the man.

[laloservin]

Is this from a DVD?

[SimonBak90]

Yes, it's called 'Simon Phillips Complete'. I have it and it's great.

[jts9704]

NIcely done on the hi-hat at 45 sec...not easy to do

[prinia30]

i am still searching for even 5 seconds in this video i can play steady ;)

[jts9704]

truly one of the best and most musical in the world

[gordon777777]

Just an excellent drummer! Love the drumming, not the song so much though.

[zhovenga]

1:19 :O

[harnois75]

1:30 - nice!

[Lifesucksdie123]

so good...

i just can't imagine setting that kit up every time i had a gig)(@*#%

[ikarooz]

I would think like most pros of his caliber, his tech does his set ups and strikes. ...and yes he is pretty darn smokin' good. Very clean and accurate!

[Lifesucksdie123]

i can't imagine being his tech and setting up that kit every time he has a gig.

[ikarooz]

Indeed. I have a 5 piece, with 5 cymbals and it takes at least a half hour, after load in. His must be three times that with all the mics. What do you play?

[MichaelG1V]

That thing is nothin, imagine being Terry Bozzios Tech.

[Kzrak]

Bozzio has a whole team to set up his kit and mic it

[SimonBak90]

And Bozzio is boring as hell, compared to Simon.

[Flaxcon]

that is sick!!!!

[Fabionkeman]

GEEZ!!!!

Simon is the best!!

[jainbain]

no way I love it, he is still the best !!!!

[pasjol]

Mindboggling how he switches leading hand, continues the tripplets and throws in a polyrthm... wow

[IMARenegade]

One of the many reasons he's one of my favorites!

[love2punk]

@pasjol POLYRYTHM AH HHHH what is this madness