Simpler way to get a diff of 2 mySQL tables?

I have two tables with identical fields, 35 identical fields.

I know I can find out what rows do not exist in one of them by using

SELECT first.a, first.b, first.c FROM first LEFT JOIN second USING(a,b,c) 
WHERE second.a IS NULL

What I am wondering is whether there is any simpler way to write this considering that the table columns and column order are identical?

Another option is:

SELECT DISTINCT a, b, c FROM first 
WHERE (a, b, c) NOT IN
(SELECT a, b, c FROM second)

It isn't a whole lot simpler, but it may be what you're looking for. Also, your version should be more efficient.

Unfortunately no, not in MySQL.

In most modern DBMS's you can use the MINUS operator for that:

SELECT col1, col2, col3
FROM tablea
MINUS
SELECT col1, col2, col3
FROM tableb

But MySQL does not support the MINUS operator yet.