The phrase “the Simon HiHat” does not refer to a specific brand or product, but rather to the revolutionary low hi-hat placement and left-hand lead technique popularized by legendary drummer Simon Phillips.
By challenging decades of traditional drum kit ergonomics, Phillips changed modern drumming by proving that drummers did not need to cross their hands to play a groove. This shift fundamentally altered drum kit setups, body mechanics, and creative phrasing for subsequent generations of musicians. The Origin: Form Follows Function (and Looks)
In the 1970s, as a young session drummer, Simon Phillips began expanding his drum kit by adding a second bass drum and more tom-toms. Under traditional setup rules, keeping a right-hand lead meant the hi-hat had to sit high over the snare drum so the right arm could cross over the left arm. Instagram·Rick Beato
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