Gavin Harrison here! [Archive] - Page 11 - DRUMMERWORLD OFFICIAL DISCUSSION FORUM

Heitor

07-11-2008, 06:07 AM

Gavin, first of all, thanks for your continuing help with the answers to our questions! It's an honor to have such a talent helping us on the drumming world!

But I need some enlightment...

I have this trip to London that I'll make exactly in October, I'll be there for 2 weeks. Actually, it'll be quite an experience since I'm going to follow a 2-week session at Abbey Road, cool huh?

Anyway, I was planning on going to the Indigo2 concert, but unfortunately it's sold out! Since I don't know how is the ticket system in London, I was looking for some help, 'cause I'm coming all the way from Brazil and I really wanted to see you guys. Do you know if there's any possibility the venue making more tickets available prior to the show? I REALLY need a ticket and if there's not any way I could get them through the venue, I'll have to stay outside the venue waiting for someone give up a ticket! Hope I can find a way to see you guys, it would really be a dream come true to me!

I'm SO sorry to bother you with this, but I'm researching ANY possibilities to get a ticket! Again, sorry to bother you!

Congratulations on one more MD Reader's Poll and best wishes!

Heitor.

drumbumhamza

07-11-2008, 01:07 PM

Hello again,

so as it turns out...im gona be upgrading my kit in about a month
these guys at mapex are giving me an A level endorsement scheme and 30% off on Mapex Saturn (the kit that chris adler uses)
however i seem to be hell bent on buying a sonor....BUT my budget for a 5 piece is uptp 2000 USD
now force 3005 is available for around 1000 USD
i was wondering if theres any kit that costs between 1500-2000 USD
the SQ2 and Designers are obviously waayyyyy out of my budget

this is my current setup :)

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/948/dsc00332largeaw6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/948/dsc00332largeaw6.407c66ab0c.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=134&i=dsc00332largeaw6.jpg)

one of my bands managed to record a song for a mainstream hindi movie at the best studio in India
i made the sound engineer listen to Trains and requested him to get my kit as well as the band to sound like Porcupine tree :D
id really appreciate it if youd review
1) the song
2) the drum phrasing
3) drum sound
4) production

the lyrics are in hindi so dont bother trying to get them :)
unless you know the language :)

thanks again :)

Gavin Harrison

07-11-2008, 01:40 PM

Hi DTrocks

The drums at the begining of the song mellotron scratch. Are they sampled-drums or did you just put some kind of effect on them after you recorded them?

They are programmed sampled drums.

Hi Heitor

Anyway, I was planning on going to the Indigo2 concert, but unfortunately it's sold out! Since I don't know how is the ticket system in London, I was looking for some help, 'cause I'm coming all the way from Brazil and I really wanted to see you guys. Do you know if there's any possibility the venue making more tickets available prior to the show?

I know the concert has sold out - and we have no control over the ticket sales or have any way of getting extra tickets. As far as I know they do not hold any reserve of tickets.

Hi drumbumhamza

my budget for a 5 piece is uptp 2000 USD
now force 3005 is available for around 1000 USD
i was wondering if theres any kit that costs between 1500-2000 USD
the SQ2 and Designers are obviously waayyyyy out of my budget

S-Classix ?...but I've no idea what they cost.

id really appreciate it if youd review
1) the song
2) the drum phrasing
3) drum sound
4) production

All good.

For those of you who are curious to see a bit of my performance at DRUMMER LIVE 08 there's a new video over at Vic Firth's site

http://www.vicfirth.com/artists/harrison.html

It's the first track of my CD with 05Ric called "Unsettled"

cheers
Gavin

JeffV71

07-11-2008, 04:11 PM

Hi Gavin,

I've seen that video over at Vic Firth - great job!! I remember way back in this forum asking you how intense that recording session was for you and you mentioned it was very challenging. And that you might be a little nervous if you were asked to play it live. I can tell how proud you are of your drumming on the 05Ric album, and I want you to know it was just terrific to see you play Unsettled LIVE! Awesome job! You know, if you had time you could make an "advanced instructional DVD" on your drumming concepts for 05Ric alone! I know I would buy it...and you'd keep me very busy for months!

How soon until another 05Ric album?

Thanks
Jeff

Gavin Harrison

07-12-2008, 01:53 AM

Thanks JeffV71,

we're working on a new one right now. Hope to release it later this year.

cheers
Gavin

Zildjian232

07-13-2008, 12:22 PM

Hi Gavin,

Do you have any special tricks for memorizing and playing long/complicated songs, such as "anesthetize"?. I'm well aware of the theory behind Time signatures, phrasing, note values, etc. Besides relentless practicing, is there any tricks you've picked up over the years that has helped you?

Cant wait for you and the Crimson guys to put out a new record. I know you guys are going to do some shows in the US. Is that a mini tour, which will be possibly lead to a larger more thorough tour of the states?(most notably the Los Angeles area)

Sorry if someone has asked you any of this. I looked around for that question, and didn't see it.

I dont know if you remember my last post, but i mentioned that I played 19 days at my Berklee audition. It went very well, by the way.

Thanks for your time on this website.

mike.

DTrocks

07-13-2008, 10:54 PM

Hey Gavin!

Just one question, that I came to think about the other day. Did you listen to porcupine tree (or any of steven's projects) before acctually joining the band?

Gavin Harrison

07-14-2008, 02:07 PM

Hi Zildjian232

Do you have any special tricks for memorizing and playing long/complicated songs, such as "anesthetize"?. I'm well aware of the theory behind Time signatures, phrasing, note values, etc. Besides relentless practicing, is there any tricks you've picked up over the years that has helped you?

If you're using a backing track of any kind - then it's really easy. Record vocal cues for yourself on a separate track that only you can hear (or you can put makers in the click track). Other than that I usually have a chart written out - and it's just a question of playing it many many times before it sinks in. Occasionally you have to count (which I really don't like doing) but sometimes it's the only way.

Hi DTrocks

Did you listen to porcupine tree (or any of steven's projects) before acctually joining the band?

Short answer - no.

cheers
Gavin

NeuroAxis

07-15-2008, 01:35 AM

Do you have any special tricks for memorizing and playing long/complicated songs, such as "anesthetize"?. I'm well aware of the theory behind Time signatures, phrasing, note values, etc. Besides relentless practicing, is there any tricks you've picked up over the years that has helped you?.

On the Rhythmic Horizons DVD he talks about a visual association system that's good for counting long sections. Say, for instance, you have to count a part that goes for 10 bars and you use five toms, you could look at one tom at the start of each bar and start over at the first tom after five bars to save yourself from having to count up to 10. I've used this system quite a lot in my own playing; even if its a part that goes 32 times or something, using everything on your kit--shells, cymbals, hardware--you can usually come up with enough combinations of things to last for that whole part. I like this system because I am a big fan of anything that lets me take my mind off of counting and timekeeping and lets me concentrate on other things like feel and improvisation (this is also the reason I like playing to clicks).

Of course as Gavin says, there's no replacement for just playing a part hundreds of times until you can just play it on autopilot.

odrummer

07-15-2008, 07:37 AM

I got introduced to Gavin by the singer of my band bring along a Porcupine Tree Cd, In Absentia. I sat down and listened to a few tracks and i thought it was good but nothing to amazing, then my singer stood up and changed the track to a song called The Creator Has A Mastertape and i loved it from then on with the complex polyrhythm between the hands and feet, I then went back of all the tracks and just listened out for the drums and i realised that there is alot hidden in these drums, after that i was hooked. I then got more of the albums(eg Deadwing). I was inspired by the creativity of Gavin and the way that he could come up with groove that no one else could play but everyone else could listen to, so he has the perfect balance.

I then went and his dvd set and could not stop trying to learn his stuff even though it was too hard but i pushed myself and am now getting there, so i should thank Gavin, for his mastership of his instrument has made me into the drum i am today.

So for any drummer who want to be amazed watch this, and just wait until 1:20 for the beauty that is Gavin Harrison
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DNViiEpx8Y

Hey Gavin

May i ask how you do that high hat fill in the song Swerve (it is at about 1 minute 20 sencond)?

drumbumhamza

07-15-2008, 07:52 AM

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/975/dsc00316largemx5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

hello,
another recording related question

after we recorded our song, there was this band from UK that had come down to record some fusion stuff with an Indian artist
now their sound engineer....reversed a speaker....so it works like a mic.....and attached it (using a metal extinguisher can for support) to the bass drum resonant skin....
our sound engineer said it was to capture some low end bass rumble or something...
have you come across such a setup ?

NeuroAxis

07-15-2008, 12:53 PM

hello,
another recording related question

after we recorded our song, there was this band from UK that had come down to record some fusion stuff with an Indian artist
now their sound engineer....reversed a speaker....so it works like a mic.....and attached it (using a metal extinguisher can for support) to the bass drum resonant skin....
our sound engineer said it was to capture some low end bass rumble or something...
have you come across such a setup ?

I've used this in a couple of recordings. It's the same thing as a Yamaha sub kick, but luckily it's pretty easy to build one so there's no reason to pay out the ass for one from Yamaha. I used one on a recent recording that was just a speaker cone wired in reverse housed in a wooden box and attached to a tom arm on a small stand. It is really good for picking up low end off of the kick.

Gavin Harrison

07-15-2008, 10:15 PM

Hi odrummer,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DNViiEpx8Y
May i ask how you do that high hat fill in the song Swerve (it is at about 1 minute 20 second)?

yes it's very simple. Groups of 3/16 between the right hand, left hand & the hi hat foot. Then I just double the notes in my hands. So it's still a group of 3/16 one is the hi hat foot then 2 32nds with my right hand on the hi hat and then 2 32nds on the snare with my left hand. At that speed it sounds like a continuous roll.

Hi drumbumhamza,

as NeuroAxis said - Yamaha make this kind of thing. I actually bought one - but sent it back as I didn't like it.

cheers
Gavin

drumbumhamza

07-16-2008, 03:26 PM

I've used this in a couple of recordings. It's the same thing as a Yamaha sub kick, but luckily it's pretty easy to build one so there's no reason to pay out the ass for one from Yamaha. I used one on a recent recording that was just a speaker cone wired in reverse housed in a wooden box and attached to a tom arm on a small stand. It is really good for picking up low end off of the kick.

oh :)
thanks
hehe it looked kinda weird to me

Drizzle

07-17-2008, 07:30 PM

Hi Gavin...

I have a technique question...

I recently put on Sting's Ten Summoner's Tales album which features the brilliant drumming of Vinnie Colauita.

Anyway as I was trying to play along to the song Seven Days (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=920BnH5bRJk), I found it challeging to play the fast 16th notes he does on the hihat.
To me he plays 16ths and accents every quarter note RrrrRrrr, and the song being in 5/8 the hihat pattern overrides, am I right???

On the video it looks like he makes the motions of playing only the 8thnotes while at the same time playing Rrrr, as I mentioned earlier. Playing it like playing 8th notes makes the overriding easier, because of the placing of the bass and snaredrum..

How would you play this rhythm, motionwise.. also like cycling 8th notes or only accenting the quarter note???

And do you play it thumb up or thumb down on this tempo???

I know it might be hard to explain, but please try

Trains'

07-17-2008, 10:03 PM

Hey Gavin ,

I bought recently a Sennheiser MX 460 ( i think the dont make the 400 anymore.. ). I heard it and i thought it has extreme high snareoutput on records .. do you feel that similiar to yours?

Another Question .. im searching for an Hi-Hat Mic , i know you where using the AKG C 391( which is available in Germany for 269 € ) do you use it live also? And why did you prefer a very cheaper mic that e.g. your overheads?

Finally , how you set up your hi hat mic and did you use effects or eq's on it?

very thankful ,

B.

Gavin Harrison

07-17-2008, 11:02 PM

Hi Drizzle

Anyway as I was trying to play along to the song Seven Days, I found it challeging to play the fast 16th notes he does on the hihat.To me he plays 16ths and accents every quarter note RrrrRrrr, and the song being in 5/8 the hihat pattern overrides, am I right???

Correct.

On the video it looks like he makes the motions of playing only the 8thnotes while at the same time playing Rrrr, as I mentioned earlier. Playing it like playing 8th notes makes the overriding easier, because of the placing of the bass and snaredrum..
How would you play this rhythm, motionwise.. also like cycling 8th notes or only accenting the quarter note??? And do you play it thumb up or thumb down on this tempo???

First off - he's miming on this video - it's just a playback thing going on. I would do the same motion for this rhythm - and play thumb on the side (more German grip than French).
A good track to play along to and build up right hand 16ths stamina is Michael McDonalnd's "I Keep Forgettin'". You soon realise that Jeff Porcaro had incredible control to make it feel that smooth over 5 minutes.

Hi Trains'

I bought recently a Sennheiser MX 460 ( i think the dont make the 400 anymore.. ). I heard it and i thought it has extreme high snareoutput on records .. do you feel that similiar to yours?

I don't know what you mean.

Another Question .. im searching for an Hi-Hat Mic , i know you where using the AKG C 391( which is available in Germany for 269 € ) do you use it live also? And why did you prefer a very cheaper mic that e.g. your overheads?

Live, our sound engineer likes the Neumann KM183 on the Hi Hat. For overheads at home I now use a pair of Neumann TLM103's

Finally , how you set up your hi hat mic and did you use effects or eq's on it?

I have pointing down near the edge of the top cymbal (about 3 inches above it when the hi hat is open). EQ wise I just roll off all the low end frequencies - that's it.

cheers
Gavin

Trains'

07-17-2008, 11:27 PM

Hey,

sorry for my awful english :-/

I will try it a second time .. i ment , have the sennheisers a different sound through the inearplug ( the custom thing.. ) ?

And i forgot a question.. do you already know which concert you will film for the dvd? I would like to travel to that concert so .. ;-)

Thanks for your time and sorry for the worse english

pearlnl

07-17-2008, 11:30 PM

Hi Gavin,

I have 2 questions:

First one about tuning
You once posted on this website:

tom 5 lowest
tom 4 augmented 5th above tom 5
tom 3 augmented 5th above tom 4
tom 2 perfect 4th above tom 3
tom 1 perfect 5th above tom 2

which would be in correspondence with

tom 5 G
tom 4 Eb
tom 3 A
tom 2 D
tom 1 A

What would you recommend if you have a 3-tom setup? For instance (from small tom to larger tom) A - Eb - G or recommend A - D - A

--

Second, I would like to know something which you played on your instructional DVD Rhytmic Horizons.

It's in the chapter of 'Overriding' and then the DVD player says chapter 16 of 'Overriding'. The fill leading you in the groove after the snare notes is that kick-kick-lowtom-snare snare-snare. Would be really cool if you could explain it a bit further since it's quite up to speed there (I want to apply it to my one basspedal setup which can be done, but I would like to know the exact thing).

Thanks!!

Kalma

07-17-2008, 11:44 PM

kheddar

07-18-2008, 12:29 AM

Hey Gavin,

Are there any Porcupine Tree (or other) songs where you are deliberately playing ahead of / behind the beat?

Also, do you have any tips for developing that kind of playing? Obviously the time quantities involved are quite short, so it must be difficult to maintain a consistent feel.

dwsabianguy

07-18-2008, 07:05 AM

Tried the search this time! Couldn't find what I'm searching for, so here's a couple more snare sound-related queries:

On Deadwing, you have a MASSIVE snare drum sound on about 90% of the album. I'm really curious as to which drum was used (sounds like the same drum...?) and the head selection. Also, which mics were used, and did you use any of the two sets of ambience mics? If a certain song needs to be referenced, Halo has the sound I'm thinking about.

I have a Yamaha Birch Custom snare with an Aquarian single-ply dot head on it (I was having troubles with the previous coated CS) and I'm curious as to what you'd do with a birch snare like that. It has the original triple-flanged hoops on it and I cut down the snares to 14 wires to get a good snare response but still be able to hear the drum. Like, what heads would you use, would you change the snares for Puresounds, and what would the normal tuning be? I want a sound with a good amount of body, and I like a relatively lively snare sound.

Thanks a lot!

Gavin Harrison

07-18-2008, 02:54 PM

Hi Trains'

have the sennheisers a different sound through the inearplug ( the custom thing.. ) ?

Yes once they're inside the custom ear piece a lot of the high frequencies disappear - which is strange from a listening point of view (and can be compensated for with some eq)- but certainly saves you hurting your ears.

And i forgot a question.. do you already know which concert you will film for the dvd? I would like to travel to that concert so .. ;-)

The two shows in Tilburg 15,16 October will be filmed.

Hi pearlnl

What would you recommend if you have a 3-tom setup? For instance (from small tom to larger tom) A - Eb - G or recommend A - D - A

Probably the three in the middle of my tuning range Eb (lowest) A (mid tom) D (highest tom) but this is all very subjective. I think the relative intervals are good but you might want to be overall higher or lower than that.

Second, I would like to know something which you played on your instructional DVD Rhytmic Horizons. It's in the chapter of 'Overriding' and then the DVD player says chapter 16 of 'Overriding'. The fill leading you in the groove after the snare notes is that kick-kick-lowtom-snare snare-snare.

Sounds like a job for Terry Branam - as does the following...from Kalma

I wanted to ask you about what you play in Mother and Child Divided on the Arriving Somewhere DVD at the times:
1:08 (where does it start? does it start with bassdrum or snare)?
1:23 (how do you play that fill :-O ?)
1:55
2:27

Hi kheddar

Are there any Porcupine Tree (or other) songs where you are deliberately playing ahead of / behind the beat?

I play sort of on the back of the beat nearly all the time. Lazarus/Shallow/Sleep Together/Sound Of Muzak/Hatesong (from the DVD) are a good examples of it - but I can hear it in all the tunes. I don't really like the sound of playing on the front of the beat and consequently find it quite a hard thing to do. I've spent so long playing on the back that it's become a very natural default thing for me.

Hi dwsabianguy

On Deadwing, you have a MASSIVE snare drum sound on about 90% of the album. I'm really curious as to which drum was used (sounds like the same drum...?) and the head selection. Also, which mics were used, and did you use any of the two sets of ambience mics? If a certain song needs to be referenced, Halo has the sound I'm thinking about.

On most of the album I used my 1982 Yamaha 14x5 Recording Custom. The only different one I can remember is that I used my Noble & Cooley Alloy Classic 14x5 on "Shallow". Both drums would have had a Remo Coated Pinstripe on the top (snare side ambassador) and 8 strand Puresound snares on them. Of course the up close mics would have been used and some of the ambience too but I don't know how much.

Cheers
Gavin

NeuroAxis

07-18-2008, 08:19 PM

Hi Gavin,

I wanted to ask you about what you play in Mother and Child Divided (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=18919259) on the Arriving Somewhere DVD at the times:
1:08 (where does it start? does it start with bassdrum or snare)?
1:23 (how do you play that fill :-O ?)
1:55
2:27

It would be great if you could explain them (or something like that) :)

Thanks again
David

I'm not Gavin but I've spent years trying to learn and play along to just about every version of this song I could get my hands on. The first fill you mentioned does start on the kick--at least as I hear it--I'm terrible at transcribing but it's just a basic kick/snare triplet pattern, like:

kick-kick-snare--kick-kick-snare--kick-kick-snare-snare

If you think of the main polyrhythm as cycling in two bars of three quarter notes and one bar of two (following his hi hat notes) then the first and last snare accents of the 1:08 fill come on the 1 and 2 of that last group of two and the kick just plays quick 16ths in between the snare accents. If you think of the fill in 8th notes it would just be "1-2-3and" going into the chorus riff after.

As for the other fills you mentioned, as many times as I have heard this song there are still plenty of Gavin's fills that I just can't figure out on my own. I can see and hear what's happening in my head but when I try and make my hands do it it just doesn't work. Maybe,as Gavin says, this would be a job for The Great Terry Branham.

Hope this helps...

gibeachhead

07-19-2008, 03:39 AM

Hey Gavin,

I heard rumors that the Live Porcupine Tree CD original planned for a Fall '08 release date has been scrapped? Any truth to this?

Thanks in advance,

Brent

daniele

07-22-2008, 12:36 AM

Hi Gavin,

I would like buy a shure beta 91 for bass drum. I have a question:why you use a sm 91? (In theory the beta is superior such as quality,i creed) Which are the differences (if you know)? Thanks

Gavin Harrison

07-22-2008, 04:07 PM

Hi gibeachhead

I heard rumors that the Live Porcupine Tree CD original planned for a Fall '08 release date has been scrapped? Any truth to this?

Yes we've put a halt on it for now.

Hi daniele

I would like buy a shure beta 91 for bass drum. I have a question:why you use a sm 91? (In theory the beta is superior such as quality,i creed) Which are the differences (if you know)?

Actually mine is a Beta 91. I know there is a slight difference between the two models and PT's sound engineer prefers the SM91. I don't know what those differences are. I find the Beta 91 on it's own is a bit disappointing - I only use it in combination with another mic - but it adds great attack to the overall sound.

cheers
Gavin

Paiste 2002

07-23-2008, 11:21 AM

Hey Gavin,

I love your playing on this track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsHyGbadzQQ

The snare sound you get there is simply incredible! That Sonor kit sounds amazing all around. Also -- congrats are in order for your second consecutive Modern Drummer progressive drummer of the year award.

Keep up the excellent work and good luck with everything in the future.

Brad

Kalma

07-23-2008, 02:44 PM

Hi Gavin,

there's a question which is very interesting to me and maybe for others, too.

How often do you break a stick?
My sticks (I use Silverfox sticks) break mostly between one and three months but sometimes after just 1 day.
Do you feel the same?

Thanks again
David

Gavin Harrison

07-24-2008, 01:35 AM

xopethx

07-24-2008, 07:37 AM

Hi Kalma

How often do you break a stick?

That's a tricky question, and it depends who I'm playing with and how long and hard the show is. For instance with Porcupine Tree - I was using Vic Firth's SD1 Maple (which I really love) but I was breaking around 8-10 sticks per show. Plus I was denting the Remo Emperors a lot. My buddy Marco Soccoli (from Vic Firth) suggested that I move up to a Hickory stick (the Rock model) with more of an acorn shaped bead. Now I break maybe 2-3 sticks a night and the heads don't get so damaged. Other artists I've played with where I've used Vic Firth 5A Extreme and they've lasted all night. Depends how hard you're playing.

Cheers
Gavin

Hey Gavin!

on that same note, what do you do when a stick has become frayed and starts splintering from rimshots? (i've read that your S-Hoops can help with stick longevity, especially on the snare). I have a bucket FULL of sticks like that, and when i'm desperate or poor, i just pull some out. Do you worry about compromising the sound of your drums with these sticks, or do you just use them until they completely fall apart?

thanks, and take care!
-chris anderson

Paul Quin

07-24-2008, 07:10 PM

Gavin:

many pages back on this thread we discussed a drum clinic on BBC 2 back in the early 1980s featuring Billy Cobham which featured a pattern played between two toms and snare with his left hand and three toms and snare with his right.

I found the clip on Youtube (sorry Bernhard) and thought you might be interested for nostalgia sake! Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxEZnyRtSME&NR=1

Take care

Paul

Gavin Harrison

07-24-2008, 10:02 PM

Hi xopethx,

what do you do when a stick has become frayed and starts splintering from rimshots? (i've read that your S-Hoops can help with stick longevity, especially on the snare).Do you worry about compromising the sound of your drums with these sticks, or do you just use them until they completely fall apart?

Yes the S-Hoops do seem to stop the splintering happening so quickly.
We normally give my 'heavily used' sticks away to fans at the merch table.

Hi Paul Quin

many pages back on this thread we discussed a drum clinic on BBC 2 back in the early 1980s featuring Billy Cobham which featured a pattern played between two toms and snare with his left hand and three toms and snare with his right.

yes I found those clips on YouTube some time ago - great stuff. I sometimes do that exercise and make the left hand do a cycle of 3 and the right do a cycle of 5. I find coordination exercises so useful and liberating. You can really feel a difference when you go back to playing normally. Funny to see those Tosco hi hats (I used to have a pair in the late 70's).

cheers
Gavin

Zodiak

07-25-2008, 01:55 AM

Hello Gavin!

Was very surprised to see you here!

Firstly, I'd like to thank you for such a wonderful show in Moscow a couple of weeks ago!! I was standing right in front of you and your playing was astonishing!! You're such an inspiration for a young drummer like myself!! Stylish, precise, powerful, amazing double-bass work!!! It was out of this world! I also screamed "Gavin, you're the best!" and gave you a thumbs-up after the show when you were right in front of me, but I guess you must have been too exhausted to notice! Nevermind, the whole show was absolutely amazing! Best live gig of my live, hands down!

Wanted to ask you two questions, if I may.

1) How do you play the very first thing in "Way Out Of Here", the little ghost note before the main beat starts? Is it just a one-handed roll or is it something different? And during the beat itself, I think I can hear you playing these little ghost-note-rolls, how does one play them?

2) My band has a song, and when I enter, before the main part starts, I play a pattern on the ride cymbal, and so I have this dilemma: should I sort of improvise and mix it up for these 4 bars, or is it better for the consistency and the band to have a particular pattern and not vary it all the time? I just don't want it to sound boring... The pattern goes something like this: (E = 8 note, S = 16, T = 32)
ESS ESS ESS TSE etc. but I always seem to vary it, so it's always different, and I don't know if it's a good thing. The drum break before the main part also starts on a off-beat (on the "and" of 2, as far as I remember), so I guess without a pre-defined pattern I won't know where to start... It's just that I have so many ideas and can't seem to decide... Maybe "less-is-more" is the right approach, what do you think?

Thank you again for being such an inspiration and such a great drummer, and, well, playing music in such an awesome band!!

Terry Branam

07-25-2008, 07:29 PM

Here are some requested transcriptions for Kalma and pearlnl.

Enjoy!

Terry

Kalma

07-25-2008, 07:46 PM

Thanks TERRY!!! You're the master of transcriptions :)

One more question. If you're not too busy, would you be able to write down the fill-in from 3:52?
If you're too busy it's ok!

dwsabianguy

07-26-2008, 06:31 AM

Gavin Harrison

07-26-2008, 05:58 PM

Hi Zodiak

1) How do you play the very first thing in "Way Out Of Here", the little ghost note before the main beat starts? Is it just a one-handed roll or is it something different? And during the beat itself, I think I can hear you playing these little ghost-note-rolls, how does one play them?

It's a percussion loop that I created at home - in a live concert you are hearing it played from a computer. The beat with the ghost note rolls is just a simple military snare drum pattern.

Maybe "less-is-more" is the right approach, what do you think?

I'd have to be in your situation to decide that. Only you can judge it.

Many thanks to Terry Branam for the transcriptions!!!

Hi dwsabianguy

I just tonight bought a coated Pinstripe and put it on my Birch Custom, and to be honest it sounds terrible. What ELSE did you have on the drums for Deadwing?

That put a smile on my face, I once bought a Yamaha Recording Custom kit and put Evans Hydraulics on it - and guess what - it didn't sound like Steve Gadd.

The thing is - changing your snare head to the same as mine is not going to make your snare sound like the recording on Deadwing. Here's why..

It's not :
the same drum
the same tuning of the top head
the same tuning of the bottom head
the same dampening
the same snares
the same rim
the same sticks
the same drummer hitting it
the same recording room
the same close mics
the same ambient mics
the same A/D converters
the same EQ
the same compression
the same mix engineer

I'm not even sure I could make the same sound again - as it was a few years ago.

cheers
Gavin

xopethx

07-26-2008, 08:17 PM

Hey there Gavin!

When you're in a live situation with Porcupine Tree, does your sound engineer place ambient mics anywhere in the venue? I'd imagine you get a much more "live" sound by mixing a bit of that sound in along with your personal drum mix, not to mention the audience sounds. What kind of mics would you use in a situation like that?
thanks
-chris anderson

*EDIT* - also, i'm going through your two DVDs again, and i LOVE the play-along tracks that are included with Rhythmic Horizons (the 4/4,5/8,7/8, etc), would there be any chance that you still have the music that you used in Rhythmic Visions, for example in the Displacement Lesson #2? It's quite a mind-bender. If not, no worries, i'm going to try and come up with something.

Mr. Brownstone

07-26-2008, 10:30 PM

The thing is - changing your snare head to the same as mine is not going to make your snare sound like the recording on Deadwing. Here's why..

It's not :
the same drum
the same tuning of the top head
the same tuning of the bottom head
the same dampening
the same snares
the same rim
the same sticks
the same drummer hitting it
the same recording room
the same close mics
the same ambient mics
the same A/D converters
the same EQ
the same compression
the same mix engineer

I'm not even sure I could make the same sound again - as it was a few years ago.

cheers
Gavin
Haha! This should be added to your sig right underneath the SEARCH THIS THREAD link. Good stuff!

Gus

07-26-2008, 11:35 PM

Terry

Thank you very much for sharing with us your work on starve!
You´re a great teacher and better mate!.

Best regards,
Gus

dwsabianguy

07-27-2008, 04:50 AM

Ah okay, thanks. But I dunno, mine doesn't even want to get in tune with itself...

atman

07-28-2008, 03:01 PM

Hi Gavin

It is well known that each drummer develops his own sound on the drums through years and practice, I'd like to keep my own sound when playing live so my question is... how do you manage to keep your own one when you have to play live? do you trust on your sound engineer or do you ask him/her to keep your own sound strictly? Thanks for your answer, I really appreciate you answering those questions filled with experience, bye, Alberto.

Gavin Harrison

07-28-2008, 04:22 PM

Hi xopethx

When you're in a live situation with Porcupine Tree, does your sound engineer place ambient mics anywhere in the venue? I'd imagine you get a much more "live" sound by mixing a bit of that sound in along with your personal drum mix, not to mention the audience sounds. What kind of mics would you use in a situation like that?

We don't use ambient mics in a live situation except when we record the show for CD or DVD.

*EDIT* - also, i'm going through your two DVDs again, and i LOVE the play-along tracks that are included with Rhythmic Horizons (the 4/4,5/8,7/8, etc), would there be any chance that you still have the music that you used in Rhythmic Visions?

I do have the music somewhere on a hard drive - but the music I created for the exercises is really nothing special - it was just something I knocked up very quickly. I'm sure you could do the same thing with and keyboard and a sequencer. I have no plan to release that stuff.

Hi atman

how do you manage to keep your own one when you have to play live? do you trust on your sound engineer or do you ask him/her to keep your own sound strictly?

You have to trust the sound engineer you're working with. They can make or break your sound. I work closely with Ian Bond (PT's sound engineer) to try to get the best sound on the drums we can make - considering the room and the PA. We try a lot of experiments with tuning, dampening, mic choices and positioning. It's a constantly moving thing.

cheers
Gavin

angelo

07-28-2008, 08:33 PM

Hi Gavin
I've a Akg D112 and E.V ND 868 for my kick drum
Now i want use a condenser and dinamic microphones in my kick but sometime two microphones generate a problem of phase. I looking in internet and find this AUDIO TECHNICA AE 2500
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec03/articles/atae2500.htm
what do you think about of this ?
thank you very much
angelo

angelo

07-28-2008, 09:28 PM

Guess what! More snare questions!

I just tonight bought a coated Pinstripe and put it on my Birch Custom, and to be honest it sounds terrible. What ELSE did you have on the drums for Deadwing?

Thanks again.

Hi dwsabianguy
I worked in "Drumsound" and costruction many snare drum.
If you take five identical drum shell this have a different pitch. i.e. take two different shell keller 13x5 10ply one is a D# and other is a F.
this is a "DW Timbre Matching concept": Process by "tapping" individual shell measured this with digital tuner foundamental pitch. This tone is the natural acoustic center of each drum's timbral persolality and the point where the shell resonated most freely.
Wood is a live fiber many foctor incided of a drum shell sound.
Type of wood, glue, bearing edge, snare venting, finishing and then other factors. Even the paint more change the sound of a snare.
you can take your snare and make a different experience change many different head and many customized your snare
excuse fom my english.
Angelo

Liquid_Drummer

07-28-2008, 11:17 PM

Gavin,

Hope things are going well in the Crim rehearsals. See you guys on Saturday !! I feel very lucky to get to see you and Crim in such an intimate setting..... Hope the show goes well...

dwsabianguy

07-29-2008, 06:41 AM

Yeah, I get that I won't be able to get exactly the same sound. It's just that when I put the head on my snare, it sounded SO way off that I thought I'd done something wrong, or that there must have been some extra muffling. I mean, as far as I know, the drums are at least similar (birch shell, same size, flanged hoops - I know the RCs come with flanged hoops standard, I don't know about Gavin Harrison's RC) so I wouldn't think the sound would be as far off as it was. And I don't have a million-dollar studio (probably more like 4500 US), so there's no way I'd be able to get exactly the same sound anyway.

But I mean, the sound was plain terrible. Maybe it wasn't tuned evenly (my drum area can be terrible for tap-tuning), but I got a gross, bright sustain that I didn't think would be there. Makes me think that there was a muffling ring involved. But for me, a half slice of Moongel works well enough for my preferences. I've actually gotten a closer sound with a completely different drum...

supermac

07-29-2008, 03:31 PM

Hi Gavin,

It's great to see you on the 2008 MD festival bill.

As I live in Newcastle UK, I'll have to wait until the DVD comes out to watch your performance!

One of my favourite drummers since when I was a kid, Simon Phillips, is also on the bill.

His early 1990s drum videos have just come out on DVD and (apart from Simon's latex Tama shorts) the playing is still fantastic.

I wondered if, as a fellow Brit, you knew Simon and what your opinion is of his playing.

kheddar

07-29-2008, 03:52 PM

Hey Gavin,

I'm learning the drum "solo" bit in Way Out of Here. There's a spot where you play a quick 5/16 pattern four times (at 5:25 in the studio version). Is the correct notation of the pattern as follows:

one 16th triplet on hihat followed by two 16th triplets on bassdrum
one dotted 32th on hihat followed by three dotted 32ths on bassdrum

?

Gavin Harrison

07-29-2008, 05:27 PM

Hi angelo

I've a Akg D112 and E.V ND 868 for my kick drum. Now i want use a condenser and dinamic microphones in my kick but sometime two microphones generate a problem of phase. I looking in internet and find this AUDIO TECHNICA AE 2500

I'm sorry but I have no experience of that Audio Technica mic.

Hi dwsabianguy,

Maybe it wasn't tuned evenly (my drum area can be terrible for tap-tuning), but I got a gross, bright sustain that I didn't think would be there. Makes me think that there was a muffling ring involved.

There was a muffling ring involved - I nearly always use one on my 14" snare drums. Maybe you were unlucky and got a bad skin?

Hi supermac

One of my favourite drummers since when I was a kid, Simon Phillips, is also on the bill.
I wondered if, as a fellow Brit, you knew Simon and what your opinion is of his playing.

I love Simon's playing - and I'm looking forward to seeing him play the festival. My father used to sometimes play in Simon's father's band - many years ago when Simon was about 13/14. Sometimes I would go along and watch. We lived quite near to his family back then, and his folks would come round to visit occasionally. I remember Simon coming over and I showed him my little shed at the end of the garden where I used to practise.
I really loved his drumming on Jeff Beck's "There and Back" album and Toyah's live album of 1982.

Hi kheddar

I'm learning the drum "solo" bit in Way Out of Here. There's a spot where you play a quick 5/16 pattern four times (at 5:25 in the studio version). Is the correct notation of the pattern as follows:

one 16th triplet on hihat followed by two 16th triplets on bassdrum
one dotted 32th on hihat followed by three dotted 32ths on bassdrum

I can't think of it at the moment - but I would imagine that the groups of fives would be like this

16th note Snare drum
two 32nds bass drum
16th note Snare drum
two 32nds bass drum
one 16th bass drum

actually Terry Branam made a great transcription of the whole solo (and a lot of other "Fear Of A Blank Planet" stuff) in Modern Drummer a couple of moths ago. You should try and have a look at it.

cheers
Gavin

dwsabianguy

07-30-2008, 06:46 AM

I guess the biggest reason why my drum sounded so terribly different was because I don't normally use muffling (the Aquarians normally do it themselves), but the Moongel pretty much did the trick. But as I've also mentioned earlier, I got a completely different drum to sound even closer. Go figure.

But one last thing - do you normally hit in the center of the snare, or slightly off? I've found that even with the Moongel that I get a remnant of the grossness if I hit in the center...

Thanks again.

xamanex

07-30-2008, 03:20 PM

hey Gavin you are my influence for play drums , you are the best man , your groove its amazing , I see the video of porcupine tree- arriving somewhere in chicago , really really nice

I am From Argentina . sorry for my english .......................but I speak spanish ....

Gus

07-30-2008, 09:29 PM

[QUOTE=Gavin Harrison;455940]Hi mstjean

[
If you look back through this thread or use the search function you will find a transcription of the start of "Unsettled". The song goes through a number of time signatures - but basically the beginning is 4/4 then it goes into 3/4 (or 7/16 & 5/16) then an implied 6/8.

Hi Gavin

Sorry but i´m not sure to understand what a 6/8 implied is (problems with my musical english). What i understand about implied time is, for example, a 4/4 bar, and start playing quarter notes triplets (three notes every two times) in bass and snare, so there´s an illusion to be in other place, while keeping the 4/4. Is this your idea?

Thank you for your presence here and for tons of inspiration!!.

Best regards
Gustavo

Bassnoob

07-31-2008, 02:50 AM

Hey Gavin,
I have already read the first pages of this thread, but its still a long way to get it all through. So i hope this questions haven't been asked already before.

1. Which location had the best sound to your mind?Do you ever "hear" the sound the audience has, or do you just can judge how good the sound is/was,because of the sound you hear on your drum seat on the stage?Did you ever had a gig,where the sound was horrible and you just could imagine,where the band is in the song.i had such situations sometimes, but i'm sure there is a big gap between your profesionality and mine, hihi.

2.I talked with many of my friends about your style of drumming, and everyone of my friends agreed with me, that the most special thing about your drumming is, that every single hit, doesn't matter on which thing you hammer on with your stick or foot :-) (tom,ride, snare,hihat,bass, .....).ähm, what i wanted to say, every single hit fits perfect into the song, or this short period of time.When you drum it never is a demonstration of technique or speed,its just the best thing you can get out of this song or this short period of time.(I hope you know what i mean)And now the questions is:Do you know what your playing from the first time you try it?I would imagine your position is horrible difficult, because you have so many options,for fills just small differences. In an interview from backstage musicians you said, that you like to improvise every show, and that means that new ideas come to your mind, how to play a song or a specific fill. So is it hard for you to choose for a specific break of one song, a specific fill for the record of the album for example, because you have so many you can choose, and i'm sure every of these fills are great. Or maybe the differences between different fills are so small, but maybe so important.

I'm very interested, if such things make genious musicians sleepless. Thanks Gavin for beeing here on our Planet

best wishes from Vienna ( great show last time)
Alex
Ps: I will never forget, when you shouted to Steve: Shut up, when he asked you for a drum solo, because he had problems with his effects ;-) .

Gavin Harrison

08-01-2008, 06:19 AM

Hi dwsabianguy

do you normally hit in the center of the snare, or slightly off?

I hit the centre of the drum and usually with a rim shot.

Hi Gus

Sorry but i´m not sure to understand what a 6/8 implied is (problems with my musical english). What i understand about implied time is, for example, a 4/4 bar, and start playing quarter notes triplets (three notes every two times) in bass and snare, so there´s an illusion to be in other place, while keeping the 4/4. Is this your idea?

No not in this case. With a bar of 3/4 there's a few different ways you can subdivide it. As I said - in the first verse I play 7/16 and 5/16 and that makes the 3/4 feel a certain way. If I play a bass drum on one and a snare exactly in the middle of the bar (the & of 2) it can seem that the feel has become triplets. That's what I meant by implying a 6/8 feel.

Hi Bassnoob

1. Which location had the best sound to your mind?Do you ever "hear" the sound the audience has, or do you just can judge how good the sound is/was,because of the sound you hear on your drum seat on the stage?

Usually really well designed studios sound the best to me. I'm never hearing the same thing that the audience is hearing in a gig situation. I don't have the PA speakers facing me.

Did you ever had a gig,where the sound was horrible and you just could imagine,where the band is in the song.

I have played in some really terrible sounding places - and I just have to hope it sounded better to the audience than it did to me.

Do you know what your playing from the first time you try it?I would imagine your position is horrible difficult, because you have so many options,for fills just small differences. In an interview from backstage musicians you said, that you like to improvise every show, and that means that new ideas come to your mind, how to play a song or a specific fill. So is it hard for you to choose for a specific break of one song, a specific fill for the record of the album for example, because you have so many you can choose, and i'm sure every of these fills are great. Or maybe the differences between different fills are so small, but maybe so important.

I try not to think of my fills as a menu that I could choose from. Sure I have some old favourites - but I try to use them as little as possible. If I can - I want to be inspired to just create something new on the spot.

I will never forget, when you shouted to Steve: Shut up, when he asked you for a drum solo, because he had problems with his effects ;-) .

Actually I think I shouted F**K OFF.

Cheers
Gavin

Liquid_Drummer

08-02-2008, 04:27 PM

Gus

08-02-2008, 10:55 PM

Hi Gavin

Also want to wish you the best at the beginning of the KC tour. I´m sure that you will do an amazing job, and put all your maestry in the music of Fripp´s band.

Best regards
Gus

Liquid_Drummer

08-03-2008, 10:24 AM

Saw Gavin with Crim.... 5th row center... Just want I wanted... Perfect

He fit in perfectly. Him and Pat had some insane stuff going on. Had my blood pumping hard..

Well done Gavin.. That was truly a great show and it looked like you and Pat were having a lot of fun.. You add a lot to the Crim with your approach..

IF anyone lives near where they are playing their next date GO SEE THEM.

What was that device you were turning knobs on to your left off and on all night ?

Gavin Harrison

08-03-2008, 09:20 PM

Hi Liquid_Drummer

What was that device you were turning knobs on to your left off and on all night ?

Glad you enjoyed the show. That device is an Aviom sub mixer - I've quite often used one in studio situations before. It gives me (and the other guys in the band that have them) the chance to turn things up or down during the concert.

cheers
Gavin

deadwing_007

08-04-2008, 12:35 AM

Hey Gavin,

I'm curious about the shows to be filmed for another dvd at 013 in October... Do you guys have any kind of a setlist planned yet or is it too far off at this point? Do you think the setlist will be significantly different than say the Arriving Somewhere tour? I've seen Porcupine Tree 4 times now, and my favorite part of any show is always the suprise of hearing songs that I didn't expect to hear.

I got the pleasure of seeing John Wesley sing Fadeaway in Philadelphia a few years ago, and I also loved hearing stuff like .3, Buying New Soul, Burning Sky, and some other songs that I wouldn't have seen coming. Might we be in for any suprises from the "up the downstair" through "stupid dream" era on this dvd, or does the band not embrace the older more psychedlic tendencies of the earlier albums as much anymore?

As always, a HUGE thank you for taking the time to answer questions!

John

BeecMx

08-04-2008, 09:50 AM

Hello Mr. Harrison~

I had the honor of watching you play in NY last year at the Nokia theatre...

I got so blown by your performance I started studying your music closer and closer and all I wanted to say is that you are great and that your playing is amazing!!!!

I was wondering if you could tell me aswell about that White Sonor snare drum you used on your DVD rhythmic Illusions I believe, Ive always looked for it everywhere then I found about this forum and I was wondering If you could talk a little about the snare drums you use in depth if possible (shell materials , snare wires, sound projection)
Thanks in advance...

by the way I loved the videos from Musikmesse frankfurt , I keep watching em every time I can...

Kind Regards FROM MEXICO!!
A fellow drummer on the road of becoming a better musician :)

basement rocker

08-04-2008, 10:46 AM

Hello Gavin
Having read numerous platitudes to yourself from the start of this thread, all I can say is, add one more to the list from me!! I have just finished watching PT "Arriving somewhere But not Here",( for the thousanth time), and frankly, I cannot think of a word large enough to describe my appreciation of how you personally elevate the complexity level of each piece of music that PT does!
They say that to copy someone is the ultimate compliment. Consider yourself complimented as I have made "learning to play, the Gavin way" a major focus of my own efforts behind my kit! Not to worry! I haven't lost site of the need to stay true to myself and my own interpitations!
I could go on and on but I think you get my drift! Thank you for expanding my personal horizons!
When are PT going to come to Vancouver?

Gavin Harrison

08-06-2008, 06:54 AM

Hi deadwing_007

I'm curious about the shows to be filmed for another dvd at 013 in October... Do you guys have any kind of a setlist planned yet or is it too far off at this point? Do you think the setlist will be significantly different than say the Arriving Somewhere tour?

Absolutely - what would be the point of filming another DVD with basically the same songs on it as the last one?

Might we be in for any suprises from the "up the downstair" through "stupid dream" era on this dvd, or does the band not embrace the older more psychedlic tendencies of the earlier albums as much anymore?

There will be some surprises.

Hi BeecMx

I was wondering if you could tell me as well about that White Sonor snare drum you used on your DVD rhythmic Illusions I believe, Ive always looked for it everywhere then I found about this forum and I was wondering If you could talk a little about the snare drums you use in depth if possible (shell materials , snare wires, sound projection)

I've already talked a lot about my snare drums - do a little search on this thread (here's a list of some of my snares http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showpost.php?p=249912&postcount=532 ).
The white Sonor drum is a 12x5 Designer.

Hi basement rocker

When are PT going to come to Vancouver?

We have no plans to come to North America right now. Probably the next time will be when we have a new record ready (and I don't know when that'll be either). I don't think we've even played Vancouver before - so I don't know if it'll be on our touring list. You might need to travel a bit to see us.

Cheers
Gavin

NeuroAxis

08-06-2008, 09:26 PM

Mr. Harrison -

I had a question about tuning. I've been using Bob Gatzen's instructional DVDs on tuning for years to teach myself, and one of his suggestions that I've always used is to use the exact same head on the top and bottom of the drum to make it easier to get the two heads to vibrate in phase with each other. And that technique has always worked well for me, but I recently switched to coated heads on the tops of my toms just to hear how it would change the sound. I know you use coated heads on the top and I think you use clear heads on the bottom. Have you ever tried using coated on the bottom as well? Do you ever have problems getting your toms in tune with the difference in heads between the resonant and batter side (your immaculate tom sound would lean me towards no, but just curious).

Thanks for the advice.

Trains'

08-06-2008, 09:54 PM

Liquid_Drummer

08-07-2008, 09:17 PM

Gavin,

There is a photo on Tony's website that shows you backstage at the theater in Nashville using some kind of practice pad that appeared to have a bunch of buttons and a readout. What is that thing ?

Thanks and hope the shows are going well...

SantiBanks

08-07-2008, 09:41 PM

Hey Gavin,

a few questions again ..

1. Why dont you use the firewire card for your mackie? Does the Motu sound better to you?
2. Do you Eq on the Mixer or on the Macintosh? Or even completly no Eq's?
3. Do you hear any difference between cheap an expensive cables?
4. Saw a concert of Pocupine Tree on Tuesday .. i think it was recorded 2005/6 in Germany. I saw a white " oblong " Pad on your Bassdrum batterhead. What was this about?

Nice Greetings and thanks so much ,

B.

Maybe that I can answer a few of those questions.

Gavin doesn't use a firewirecard in his mackie because his mackie simply can't accept it. He has the "older" 8bus. The firewirecards only work in the Onyxseries (with the wonderful preamps. I can recommend these! They just sound awesome!)

A little sidenote: the firewire cards are produced by Echo Audio (who sell very good firewire interfaces like the audiofire series) and strangly enough not by mackie themselves, though they have some firewire soundcards too.

If I remember well, Gavin now uses the Apogee Rosetta 800 card to record his stuff. Mackie Onyx is pretty good but they can't beat the Apogee. Im not sure if he even has his motu in use.

I don't know about the EQ but I recall reading somewhere in this topic that he doesn't use EQ and compression much (but gavin has to clarify this)

The difference between cheap and expensive cables might not be audible in some occasions. I use a mix of them and never heared the difference myself but there are some benefits from using "expensive" cables instead of the cheap ones.

The cheap ones are build cheap which means lousy soldering work, lousy connectors (usually not neutrik), cheap wire with thin shielding. They might work fine but the expensive cables are just of much better quality. Thats what you pay for. They give you some sense of guaranty for perfect operation and performance. Cheap cables don't, so don't look strange if they blow it. Also, the use of those cables depends on the application. I use pretty cheap cables in my racks on stage, just because they are very short, hardly replugged (I connect everything on the inside of the rack, that's it. Just a stereo audio cable to the mixingdesk and a monitoring cable input, thats it. All others are fixed) and the chance that they break down, wear or give a bad signal is very small. For my keyboards and all the cables that I do reconnect on stage, I usually use better quality cables because they are more durable, give good signals over longer distances and because they are a bit thicker so that they can handle more (like people stepping on them, flightcases dropping on them, getting stucked between parts etc.)

if you are looking for good quality cables for "low" price, then just make your own. Get some neutrik connectors and good quality wire and solder your own. Most bands use custom cables, usually manufactured by the roadies.

Gus

08-07-2008, 09:41 PM

Hi Gavin

I´ve seen in Tony´s pics your new SQ2. It looks impressive (i´ve always loved natural finishes).

Any changes in the kit or cymbals?.

Really Fripp refuse to tour Europe with the new KC?

Will you endorse the "Elvis sandwich"? -just joking-

Best regards.

Alex P.

08-08-2008, 01:15 AM

Bonjour Gavin,

(Sorry if my english is not very good!)
This question is about the song "Arriving Somewhere..." :
At 8'50, what can we hear? Is it a drum machine, a sample, or something else?
Thanks for your answer and for all the things you do!
Hope to see you and PT soon.

Cheers from Paris

Alex P.

Kalma

08-08-2008, 01:37 AM

Hi Gavin,

there's a question about the Sound of an Force 2001.

I'm using the old series with the long tom-arms which go into the toms you know?

I'm now thinking about remove the cover, close unnessecary wholes, improve the bearing edge and put new veneer around the set and finally mount T.A.R Systems on it.
Do you think the sound could be MUCH better or do you think it's needless waste of money?

thank you very much
david

Gavin Harrison

08-08-2008, 02:25 AM

Hi NeuroAxis

I know you use coated heads on the top and I think you use clear heads on the bottom. Have you ever tried using coated on the bottom as well? Do you ever have problems getting your toms in tune with the difference in heads between the resonant and batter side?

I have used coated and clear heads on the bottoms and haven't had a problem getting them in tune.

Hi Trains'

1. Why dont you use the firewire card for your mackie? Does the Motu sound better to you?

I know SantiBanks has already answered some of these questions - but just to confirm - my Mackie is the old analog desk with no chance of a digital card.

2. Do you Eq on the Mixer or on the Macintosh? Or even completly no Eq's?

I do a little bit of EQ on both.

3. Do you hear any difference between cheap an expensive cables?

No

4. Saw a concert of Pocupine Tree on Tuesday .. i think it was recorded 2005/6 in Germany. I saw a white " oblong " Pad on your Bassdrum batterhead. What was this about?

It was a "moleskin" with a credit card underneath it. I was just experimenting with bass drum sounds. I've gone back to using the "Evans Black Patches".

Hi Liquid_Drummer

There is a photo on Tony's website that shows you backstage at the theater in Nashville using some kind of practice pad that appeared to have a bunch of buttons and a readout. What is that thing ?

It's a "BeatNik" practise pad by OnBoard Research. It has a built in metronome - and it measures how accurately you can play with a click.

Hi Gus

I´ve seen in Tony´s pics your new SQ2. It looks impressive (i´ve always loved natural finishes). Any changes in the kit or cymbals?.

No, it's the same sizes that I normally use. This time I'm using a Zildjian 18" Oriental Crash Of Doom - which is different from my usual cymbal setup - plus 3 prototypes "crash bells" (7" 8" 9").

Hi Alex P.

This question is about the song "Arriving Somewhere..." :
At 8'50, what can we hear? Is it a drum machine, a sample, or something else?

It's me playing the drums - but it's been processed in a computer plug-in.

Hi Kalma

there's a question about the Sound of an Force 2001.I'm using the old series with the long tom-arms which go into the toms you know?

Sorry - I don't really know anything about the "Sonor Force" series.

cheers
Gavin

xopethx

08-08-2008, 09:08 AM

Hello Gavin -

I'm hoping you've had some experience with this sort of situation - When you were at the point where you became truly serious about being a drummer (or, a musician in general), were you involved with any other musicians in your area? You seem to be extremely self-motivated and focused when it comes to your own personal development - Did this ever make itself apparent when working with other people? I'm wondering how you deal with those types of situations.....i'm sort of in a difficult spot -

Part of me rationalizes that it's perfectly okay to just keep to yourself and focus on "getting better", but this widens the gap even further between yourself and those with differing goals, and can isolate you and make you miss out on some potentially great opportunities. Where I live, it's rare enough to find a decent musician, let alone somebody showing any level of dedication to their craft. I'm not even sure it's my location anyhow...complacency is everywhere.
So, on that same token, would you instead try and "weather the storm"? Is challenging one's self enough, or is it crucial to be in the company of other like-minded musicians?

Thanks for any input you might have, Gavin
-Chris Anderson

kheddar

08-10-2008, 10:51 PM

Hey Gavin,

kind of a silly question to ask you, but do you happen to know whether or not the end of Sentimental is an intentional reprise of Trains?

Also, are there any Chris Maitland fills/licks you've kept 100% identical to the studio version?

Gavin Harrison

08-11-2008, 03:14 AM

Hi xopethx

When you were at the point where you became truly serious about being a drummer (or, a musician in general), were you involved with any other musicians in your area?

No, I was about 6 or 7 years old when I decided that.

So, on that same token, would you instead try and "weather the storm"? Is challenging one's self enough, or is it crucial to be in the company of other like-minded musicians?

I'd say most of my development took place on my own. I've spent many times out of employment and I just hoped that it would come back. Practicing just kept me busy and interested in the meantime. How opportunities to play with great players and work arrived at my door was - and still is - a mystery.

Hi kheddar

kind of a silly question to ask you, but do you happen to know whether or not the end of Sentimental is an intentional reprise of Trains?

Yes it is.

Also, are there any Chris Maitland fills/licks you've kept 100% identical to the studio version?

I don't believe so.

cheers
Gavin

xopethx

08-11-2008, 09:23 AM

Hey Gavin

Were you really that young when you decided you wanted to pursue drumming as a career?? that's amazing...talk about following your dreams.
The reason I ask all of this is because lately, i feel like nobody that i'm currently playing with is on the same page, in the long-term. They don't care about practicing or learning new skills....they're like grumpy old men...unwilling to open their minds at all!
Is it futile (ha!) to wish that i could instill some natural curiosity in them? I'm actually considering moving somewhere with a larger music scene and the possibility for session work (both playing, and myself doing production work and recording other bands).. I guess i'm just wondering if you encountered this sort of thing when you were beginning to make a life out of it....

thanks very much for your insight.

ALSO - i don't know if you've done it before, but i took a cracked 18" Oriental China Trash i had lying around, and cut it down to about 12-13 inches...got it back into round using my bench-grinder, and it actually sounds really nice! More of an open "Ahhhh", with a clearer and definite musical tone. I wasn't sure how a china would turn out, doing this sort of thing :)

drumrabbi

08-12-2008, 02:03 PM

Good Morning or Afternoon Gavin:

I have ben playing for approx 27 years and have gotten heavily swayed from groove based drumming ( blues , funk, rock ) to more Prog style drumming over the past years...I guess what goes around , comes around, ef? When I started playing it was speed metal w/ lots of double kick and then I got into the Chili Peppers, Primus , Tool, Crimson...

I do more recording now than ever and also have discovered you as well as the music of Porcupine Tree.

I have also gotten into the Mount Helium ( formerly THe Apex Theory and the skills of Sammy J. Watson )

My main reason for writing is this:

My 2 year old has just started to experiment with picking up sticks ( perfect matched griip by the way...My wife and I did not help him at all) and banging on his bongo's and a 6x10 snare that I gave him.

Recently we put in your "Rhythmic Horizons" DVD And just like I was,he was transfixed on your skills and the sound!

He grooves and dances with the tunes section, however during the FBI Warning and the important info about not copying the DVD which also plugs your web page, there is a real heavy riff with tight odd meter drumming that he ABSOLUTELY enjoys.

I've looked and cannot find if this is a PT song or a collaboration. Can you help shed some light on this for me? I'd like to find a copy so that my wife and I do not have to keep playing the DVD from the very beginning to entertain him.

Keep on making incredible music and inspiring the drumming community!

All the best,

Josh Lebowitz
United States

Gavin Harrison

08-12-2008, 05:39 PM

Hi xopethx

Were you really that young when you decided you wanted to pursue drumming as a career??

Absolutely. My father was a professional musician and it seemed like the natural thing for me to do.

The reason I ask all of this is because lately, i feel like nobody that i'm currently playing with is on the same page, in the long-term. They don't care about practicing or learning new skills....they're like grumpy old men...unwilling to open their minds at all!
Is it futile (ha!) to wish that i could instill some natural curiosity in them? I'm actually considering moving somewhere with a larger music scene and the possibility for session work (both playing, and myself doing production work and recording other bands).. I guess i'm just wondering if you encountered this sort of thing when you were beginning to make a life out of it....

I haven't really encountered this kind of thing. I grew up in London. Maybe moving to more of a music hub - would at least put you in a place where you'd meet and play with more motivated people. I actually met some great musicians in my local music shop.

Hi drumrabbi

Recently we put in your "Rhythmic Horizons" DVD And during the FBI Warning there is a real heavy riff with tight odd meter drumming - I've looked and cannot find if this is a PT song or a collaboration. Can you help shed some light on this for me?

This not a PT piece - it's just something I composed to run over the menu at the beginning. I never developed the tune past that riff. Glad you son likes it!!

cheers
Gavin

drumrabbi

08-13-2008, 02:01 AM

Gavin:
Thank you for shedding some additional light on the menu music from the DVD.

is there any way that that is available by itself?

On another note , I've been intrigued by your playing since first hearing "Futile" on XM Radio.

I also discovered your work w/ Level 42. Mark King has been a favorite bass player of mine since I was 13.

Your versatile playing has captured the attention of my father as well. He played for approx. 17 years. so the music does run deep in the family.
i sent him home with some sampling of your music and he was blown away.

Thanks for the feedback and the inspiration.

Josh lebowitz

pearlnl

08-13-2008, 11:52 PM

SantiBanks

08-15-2008, 04:21 PM

Hi Gavin!

Hope you are doing great. I was thinking, if you had to compile a group of jazz musicians to do a project with, with you as leader, who would you choose? It doesn't matter if it's "possible" or not (or even if the musicians are still alive).
Just interested...

I noticed that you like music with a good groove. Have you heard the stuff from Chick Corea with the Elektric band (and particulary, beneath the mask?) I really love the sound of Dave Weckl and John Patitucci grooving and playing with Chick.

Cheers
Santi

Kalma

08-15-2008, 05:23 PM

Hi Gavin,

On your dvd 'Arriving somewhere' with porcupine tree i'm wondering what you are doing on 'hatesong' towards the end of it. there are those little breaks, and in one of them you seem to stick your finger in your mouth and then slide over the drumhead of one of your tom..

can you please explain what that was..?

this creates the "wooooooing" sound (or how to put this in words?).
If you hit the drum and then do the thing gavin did, you get this sound. Sounds really nice if you (can) do it :)

Shane G

08-15-2008, 10:54 PM

Gavin,

Im looking forward to attending your clinic at PASIC this year.

Will you be doing any autographs in the exhibit hall for Zildjian/Sonor/Vic Firth/ S-hoops, etc?

Shane

Gavin Harrison

08-16-2008, 12:40 AM

Hi pearlnl

On your dvd 'Arriving somewhere' with porcupine tree i'm wondering what you are doing on 'hatesong' towards the end of it. there are those little breaks, and in one of them you seem to stick your finger in your mouth and then slide over the drumhead of one of your tom..

It's a kind of friction effect that conga players do to make a special sound on the skin.

Hi SantiBanks

I was thinking, if you had to compile a group of jazz musicians to do a project with, with you as leader, who would you choose? It doesn't matter if it's "possible" or not (or even if the musicians are still alive).

Ah, "Fantasy Jazz Group"
I'd probably have Chet Baker on trumpet - Ray Brown on bass, Jim Hall on guitar, Joe Zawinul on piano/keyboards. Can you set it up for me?

Hi Shane G

Im looking forward to attending your clinic at PASIC this year.
Will you be doing any autographs in the exhibit hall for Zildjian/Sonor/Vic Firth/ S-hoops, etc?

I would imagine so. See you there.

cheers
Gavin

gibeachhead

08-16-2008, 08:14 AM

Might we be in for any suprises from the "up the downstair" through "stupid dream" era on this dvd, or does the band not embrace the older more psychedlic tendencies of the earlier albums as much anymore?

There will be some surprises.

Cheers
Gavin

Always Never! http://sideshowcollectors.com/forums/images/smilies/rock.gif

Would that be something special to see/hear. Love your drumming on the re-master Gavin, it really helps make the song into something extraordinary.

thrang

08-16-2008, 04:46 PM

Gavin

Saw the Nokia Theater show last night (Friday) and am still in awe the following morning...I've been following Crimson since the release of Discipline, and have attended many show - last night's may have been one of the best I've ever experienced, and certainly the most powerful.

Gavin, it's the first time I've heard you play live, and your inventiveness and breadth of musical choices is astonishing. There seems to be a high comfort level with Pat, who was equally marvelous intertwining with you.

I also found Tony Levin particularly amazing - he seems to be relishing this short return back to Crimson, and I don't think I've heard him play the stick and find deep grooves like he did last night in decades.

A few comments/questions.

- As promising as the Nokia Theater looked (ample soundproofing, room shape), the mix was not ideal last night. At times, Roberts' and Pats' playing was barely or not heard at all, and even some of Adrian's leads were low. Tony's four-string was at times too loud, as were some of your kit as compared to Pat's. Now we were orchestra center, right, second to last row, so perhaps the balance favored the stage right players, but it likely shouldn't to the extent of sometimes losing the other performers.

- Is this your first time playing in double drummer setup? How do you find the experience, and is it something you'd like to explore more?

- Is there any talk of possibly writing new material with this five-man lineup?

- Most of us know Robert can be a mercurial individual to say the least, but blocking his view with his rig seems an odd way to perform, given we all did come to hear and SEE the band. I took my son last night, who is starting to learn guitar, and he was particularly disappointed that he couldn't watch firsthand some the playing he's heard on disc. Also, while he is applauding the rest of the band, do you find it rude at some level that he doesn't join the rest of you to take a final bow?

- I'm coming again tonight (Saturday). Any chance you could teach the fella's "Futile" before 8:30 :-) That's an awfully Crimson-esque piece....

Kalma

08-17-2008, 11:45 AM

Hey Gavin,

what Drop Clutch do you use for the 600er HiHat Stands?

Thanks
David

Gavin Harrison

08-17-2008, 06:08 PM

Hi thrang

- Is this your first time playing in double drummer setup? How do you find the experience, and is it something you'd like to explore more?

No, I did a double drum thing in Italy a few years back and it was good fun. It has some good possibilities and some restrictions - it always needs careful planning and rehearsing - but I'm enjoying doing it.

- Is there any talk of possibly writing new material with this five-man lineup?

Not at the moment.

Also, while he is applauding the rest of the band, do you find it rude at some level that he doesn't join the rest of you to take a final bow?

No, I don't find it rude at all.

- I'm coming again tonight (Saturday). Any chance you could teach the fella's "Futile" before 8:30 :-) That's an awfully Crimson-esque piece....

It could take longer than a soundcheck!!!

Hi Kalma

what Drop Clutch do you use for the 600er HiHat Stands?

DW505

cheers
Gavin

Liquid_Drummer

08-17-2008, 06:31 PM

Gavin,

It clicked today.. For some reason out of the blue I am now able to play polys with more ease and less "brain tangle" (which is what I call when you are barley able to play something and you feel like you can barely hold it together).

Groups of 5 over 7, 3 over 4 with any limb combination and while singing the accents as they are too fast to count. As a matter of fact the section on your dvd about singing the accents of 5 per say while tapping the accents for 7 or whatever number is what I feel made this click.

I have been doing it for a long time and at times without realizing it often annoying my girlfriend or coworkers !! Just wanted to say thanks because that simple section just unlocked something that I have been working toward for a long time..

Have you ever had something that seemed way out of reach technically just become available to you so suddenly ? Like the light just came on.. Weird experience isnt it ?

Hear the Crim shows are going well.. Congrats on another milestone. That is a very coveted seat you are sitting in.

NeuroAxis

08-17-2008, 11:10 PM

Hi pearlnl

Ah, "Fantasy Jazz Group"
I'd probably have Chet Baker on trumpet - Ray Brown on bass, Jim Hall on guitar, Joe Zawinul on piano/keyboards. Can you set it up for me?

That's awesome to hear you are a Zawinul fan. He's been (was, RIP) one of my favorite jazz players for a long time.

Have you by chance heard any of his solo work with the Zawinul Syndicate? He has played with some phenomenal drummers with the Syndicate like Nat Townsley and Paco Sery just to name a few...

deadwing_007

08-18-2008, 03:17 AM

Hey Gavin,

seeing a poster asking you about the dw505 drop clutch reminded me of an issue i have with mine. I'm trying to figure out the best way to explain it....When i close the hi-hats, the clutch is able to move a little bit, almost like its pulling the metal clamp down a little further. Its strange because in my foot i distinctly feel the hi hats close, and then feel the clutch going down a bit more. Also if I am trying to go from tightly closed hi hats to looser it feels especially strange easing up slightly. Have you ever had a similar problem to this? It doesn't seem like there is anything to adjust to change this, and its not that I have the top hi-hat cymbal too loose, this is all happening above the cymbal...

I am also really looking forward to seeing you at pasic!

Thanks for the responses,

John

Joe P

08-18-2008, 07:09 AM

Hey Gavin.

Ok, we all know that there are infinite ways to play any given tune. In fact, many professional drummers never play the same tune the same way. Well, my problem is not playing shows, but recording. Every time I record something, I always nitpick my playing, whether it be "that fill could have been more tasteful" or "I liked that transition better on the last take." I can never be fully satisfied with the way I record ANY tune! I always seem to do about 50 takes then wind up being too tired and burnt out to do any more. It seems that this would be horrid in a professional situation, because the way things are going, I'll get burnt out from every song while recording, and never really want to play it again!

I guess my simple question is: How do you record music such that you'll be satisfied with the product? Or is it ever even possible to be satisfied with a recording in the long run? Would my solution be to carefully structure every single groove and fill for the recording [but only in a worst-case scenario, because that sounds like it would be horrid!]?

EDIT: Also, I wanted to ask you if there was any recorded version of "Slippin' Away" from your DVD?

SantiBanks

08-18-2008, 12:19 PM

Ah, "Fantasy Jazz Group"
I'd probably have Chet Baker on trumpet - Ray Brown on bass, Jim Hall on guitar, Joe Zawinul on piano/keyboards. Can you set it up for me?

cheers
Gavin

Very interesting (and good) choices Gavin! If I could set it up, I would of course but impossible as (sadly) only one person is still alive nowadays...

Any chance that you would some kind of jazz album, I guess with a different band then the Fantasy Jazz Group ;) I know you haven't been invited (at least not till the last time we talked about this) to be part of some jazz project, but that might not stop you from forming your own jazz project.

Gus

08-18-2008, 11:17 PM

Hi Gavin

Do you know if will be soon avalaible through DGM, downloads of any of the american concerts with KC?.

Everything i read was so fine, so it´s been a difficult waiting!. And of course want to hear your approach with the "crim-songs".

About the "Fantasy Jazz Group", when SantiBanks did the question, immediatily came Bill Evans in my mind as your pianoman... Another elegant musician like Chet, and two of my favourites.

I too encourage you to do sometime a jazz-orientated projeKct.

Best regards
Gustavo

SantiBanks

08-18-2008, 11:37 PM

About the "Fantasy Jazz Group", when SantiBanks did the question, immediatily came Bill Evans in my mind as your pianoman... Another elegant musician like Chet, and two of my favourites.

I too encourage you to do sometime a jazz-orientated projeKct.

Best regards
Gustavo

Bill Evans would be a perfect choice indeed, as would Lyle Mays (from the PMG) be (and he is still alive gladly!)
In case you never heard of lyle mays, check out the video below. His solo spot is at 2:56.

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=HWEZ3RmCgVc

I think he is one of the most underrated and unknown jazz pianists of modern times. He really has brilliant technique, composition and harmony skills. He has a lot of control over his sound and his solo's are always fantastic (and darn difficult!) Lyle made some good references/tributes to Bill Evans (bill @ the montreux was his first jazz record I believe)

MoreCowbell!!

08-19-2008, 06:12 PM

Hi Gavin

I was just wondering, how many hours did you use to practice per day when you were a kid?

gongbass

08-19-2008, 06:30 PM

Gavin, I was at the final Crimson show on Sunday night at the Nokia theater. As a professional musician I've played in and been to hundreds of shows and have seen thousands of musicians You're performance was one of the best I've ever seen. I was with another fellow drummer and we both couldn't get over not only how masterfully you've played the instrument but how great your drums and cymbals sounded. Really, kudos to you and your talent, its rare that I'm that impressed anymore. What I love about your playing is that its highly technical but always musical.

On to the gear!! You mentioned those Zildjian Crash/bell prototypes any way we could get a little more info on them? where they the three little cymbals right in front of you? What are their weights and does Zildjian plan on actually selling them?

Gus

08-19-2008, 09:07 PM

Hi gongbass

Use the search utility, you will find a lot of information abou it. It´s one of the most wanted in the forum!!!

Best regards.

gongbass

08-19-2008, 09:23 PM

Thanks Gus. I know that Gavin's "homemade cup chimes" have been exhaustively discussed however I haven't seen much about the "crash-bell" prototypes other then Gavin's recent mention.

In addition to the 5 cup chimes, gavin now has 3 of these prototype cymbals right above his 3 rack toms. I think he had them up for the DRUMMER LIVE festival too, at least looks like it from the youtube clips.

I really hope Zildjian does something with these. As a devout Zildjian guy, as well as a soundtrack composer these cymbals would be a welcome addition to my arsenal!!

Hopefully gavin can shed some light.

BBman

08-20-2008, 07:09 AM

To gongbass: Just wondering if you're the gongbass on the Tama forum?

To Gavin:
I am extremely excited to see you at PASIC and was wondering if you were going to be doing a solo or if you were going to be playing along to different songs. This is just so I can be prepared to be amazed.

Gavin Harrison

08-20-2008, 01:36 PM

Hi Liquid_Drummer

It clicked today.. For some reason out of the blue I am now able to play polys with more ease and less "brain tangle" (which is what I call when you are barley able to play something and you feel like you can barely hold it together).Have you ever had something that seemed way out of reach technically just become available to you so suddenly ? Like the light just came on.. Weird experience isnt it ?

Virtually everything that is in my books was out of reach to me in the beginning...so yes I've had that feeling a lot. It's usually 'mind over matter' rather than some technically difficult coordination thing.

Hi NeuroAxis,

Have you by chance heard any of his solo work with the Zawinul Syndicate? He has played with some phenomenal drummers with the Syndicate like Nat Townsley and Paco Sery just to name a few...

Yes I have some Zawinul Syndicate recordings - and Paco and Nat are amazing on them.

Hi deadwing_007

seeing a poster asking you about the dw505 drop clutch reminded me of an issue i have with mine. I'm trying to figure out the best way to explain it....When i close the hi-hats, the clutch is able to move a little bit, almost like its pulling the metal clamp down a little further.Have you ever had a similar problem to this?

On the underside of the top section there is a nut that can be backed out to get rid of that unwanted movement. I believe there's an allen key screw holding that nut - you may have to undo that first.

Hi Joe P

I guess my simple question is: How do you record music such that you'll be satisfied with the product? Or is it ever even possible to be satisfied with a recording in the long run? Would my solution be to carefully structure every single groove and fill for the recording [but only in a worst-case scenario, because that sounds like it would be horrid!]?

I normally have a reasonable idea of what I want to play on a song as I'm listening to it. I know the feeling of not being happy with it - but you have to reach a compromise with yourself and say 'that's as good as it's going to get today'. A few weeks later I can't even remember the tiny details I was unhappy about on the day of recording. I've done so much recording - and I know my own playing so well - I know there will always be flaws - but I also know when I feel it's sounding good and I should leave it there. Working out every single beat and fill is not going to make me happy.

Also, I wanted to ask you if there was any recorded version of "Slippin' Away" from your DVD?

No - there's just that DVD version.

Hi SantiBanks,

Any chance that you would some kind of jazz album, I guess with a different band then the Fantasy Jazz Group ;)

I've often played with the idea of that. I know some great jazz musicians I could get it together with. It just doesn't feel like the right time to do it. Maybe when I'm older it will feel like a nice return to my roots.

Hi Gus

Do you know if will be soon avalaible through DGM, downloads of any of the american concerts with KC?.

I don't know about that. I do know that all the shows were recorded on multitrack though.

About the "Fantasy Jazz Group", when SantiBanks did the question, immediatily came Bill Evans in my mind as your pianoman... Another elegant musician like Chet, and two of my favourites.

Yes I love Bill Evans and Lyle Mays too.

Hi MoreCowbell!!

I was just wondering, how many hours did you use to practice per day when you were a kid?

As long as could - is the honest answer. Practising my lesson material was always painful to me and needed some will power to get me through - but playing along to records and just figuring out things on my own I could do as long as I could stay awake.

Hi gongbass

You mentioned those Zildjian Crash/bell prototypes any way we could get a little more info on them? where they the three little cymbals right in front of you? What are their weights and does Zildjian plan on actually selling them?

Those three cymbals are still in the prototype phase - I can tell you that they're 7" 8" 9" in size and have an unusual crash-bell sound to them. They're not splash cymbals- and they're not bells - but probably somewhere in between. I've been using them on my last couple of recording projects and I'm very pleased with the sound of them. I hope that one day Zildjian might consider marketing them. Glad you enjoyed the Crimson show in NYC.

Hi BBman

I am extremely excited to see you at PASIC and was wondering if you were going to be doing a solo or if you were going to be playing along to different songs. This is just so I can be prepared to be amazed.

I'll be playing along to tracks from PT, some tracks from my DVD's and my last project with 05Ric. I don't really do drum solos.

cheers
Gavin

king_chicken

08-20-2008, 03:30 PM

hi gavin!

I'm not gonna bore you with all the spiel about how big a fan i am and so forth, although i did travel 3000km to see PT play in sydney this year.

I go through phases where i absolutely love your playing and then i go through phases where i'll dig someone else like brian blade or some other monster, then i'll come back to you.

Right now i'm really digging your playing again and the main thing that has and always will impress me is your time.
That leads me to ask: What did you do to work on your time when you were in your practice intense days and what would you recomend to aspiring drummers such as myself to work on our time?

also, i'm lucky i'm in a situation where i can apply for grants to get around the world and learn from all sorts of players if i bug the grants comittee enough. is there any chance you do any private lessons for situations like that? (don't answer if you think it is innappropriate to ask in public).

A huge fan, K_C.

drumbumhamza

08-20-2008, 04:30 PM

Hey,

Iv been away from a while...so my questions seem to have piled up.

First up...i was given a semi endorsement deal by mapex :) so i bought a mapex saturn standard 5 piece. Any reviews? (Its the same kit that Chris Adler uses)

Secondly...i did sessions for a country/blues artist from the US and boy did listening to your playing help me out or what. She wanted that whole 60-70s type of subtle drumming and during the course of the recording your style and techniques were the only things driving me :). Oh and the whole album was recorded live on analog tape with all the musicians playing together which made things slightly more difficult. I was wondering... which of the sessions youve done so far, had the whole band playing at once ?

Skins...the skins im using are all evans
tom reso - G2
tom batt - hydraulics
snare batt - power center
bass batt - emads

i know you use Remos but if you have ever used these skins....how did u find them ?

Miking....
snare top - sm 57
snare bot - sennheiser 812
bass inside - akg d 112
tom 1 - 812
tom 2 - sm 58
tom 3 - sm 58
overheads - neumann 184
no distant mikes

il upload the songs as soon as i get them

my last question is
how exactly (scientifically...if possible) does the depth of a snare drum change its sound
i know the deeper the snare the fatter the sound
but how exactly does that work ?

cheers

communion

08-20-2008, 05:38 PM

Hi Gavin !
first time to be here,the sound of your drumming influences me alot.as Im a guitarist myself and do the recording for my band.
so it's really a great place for me to learn how you get the drum into audio path and how you play your unique drumming so that I can tell my drummer to learn abit.haha.
ok,back to the question.firstly,I read that you use rosetta 800 and got alot of mics for the whole kits.so,how you group your each tracks into 8 channels AD?as I recently got a 8 channel apogee and ready for drum tracking.and which drums would you suggest to record if you are limited in only 8 mics?thanks!!!

Gavin Harrison

08-20-2008, 06:48 PM

Hi king_chicken

Right now i'm really digging your playing again and the main thing that has and always will impress me is your time. That leads me to ask: What did you do to work on your time when you were in your practice intense days and what would you recomend to aspiring drummers such as myself to work on our time?

I was always very observant as a kid - and I still am now. I could hear my own time discrepancies clearly - and I still can now. I used to practise with a portastudio (a 4 track cassette machine) and record myself and listen out for different things..such as "Internal sync" - to see if my bass drum was really in time with my hi hat - same with the snare drum accents and ghost notes - I was trying to play them together but couldn't always hear if they were. With those portastudios they had a pitch wheel which meant I could slow the tape right down and hear the flams that were sometimes happening between the hi hat/snare/bass drum - a whole lot easier than at normal speed. It was like a kind of aural microscope. I'd do the same thing when playing to a click - I'd record myself - and then listen back with the tape speed going much slower.

I was listening to a lot of Steve Gadd, Jeff Porcaro and John Robinson and I could tell that my playing didn't feel as good - as smooth and relaxed as those guys did. So that gave me a focus - a goal to try to get close to - I really wanted that kind of feeling in my time. Mostly it was learning to play on the back of the beat.
I would play along to tracks with those guys on and then just listen back to my drumming (without the music going on). I would even go and stand outside my practise room so I could hear the playback of my drumming and imagine I was listening to someone else. It was easier to make a judgment like that.

I still work on timing things now - I always feel that my timing could be better.

Hi drumbumhamza

Oh and the whole album was recorded live on analog tape with all the musicians playing together which made things slightly more difficult. I was wondering... which of the sessions youve done so far, had the whole band playing at once ?

Most of the sessions I did in my early days were like that - I can't think of any lately.

i know you use Remos but if you have ever used these skins....how did u find them ?

I have used some Evans heads - but I've kind of honed my sound with the Remo ones.

my last question is - how exactly (scientifically...if possible) does the depth of a snare drum change its sound i know the deeper the snare the fatter the sound but how exactly does that work ?

I've no idea. You should ask a drum manufacturer.

Hi communion

firstly,I read that you use rosetta 800 and got alot of mics for the whole kits.so,how you group your each tracks into 8 channels AD?as I recently got a 8 channel apogee and ready for drum tracking.and which drums would you suggest to record if you are limited in only 8 mics?thanks!!!

I use two Apogee Rosettas for 16 channels. If you have to limit the drums to 8 channels then I would

1. BD
2. Snare
3&4 stereo toms sub mixed
5&6 stereo overheads
7&8 stereo room ambience

cheers
Gavin

SantiBanks

08-20-2008, 06:58 PM

Hi SantiBanks,

Any chance that you would some kind of jazz album, I guess with a different band then the Fantasy Jazz Group ;)

I've often played with the idea of that. I know some great jazz musicians I could get it together with. It just doesn't feel like the right time to do it. Maybe when I'm older it will feel like a nice return to my roots.

Yes I love Bill Evans and Lyle Mays too.

cheers
Gavin

I'll be the first to buy a copy ;)

I noticed that Mike Portnoy always videotapes the recordingsessions of the dream theater albums and releases them on his website. They include drum only, whole band and comments soundtracks. I watched some of those and find them particulary interesting and useful for learning and figuring out parts. Any chance to see something similar from you somewhere in the future?

Also, a lot of musicians tape themselves when practicing their instruments to see/hear how they really play. Did you do that a lot when you started and did you find those recordings useful? I'm thinking of starting recording my own playing to learn from it but I'm not sure if I would benefit from it and if its worth all the hassle.

gongbass

08-20-2008, 08:10 PM

Yes it me the same Gongbass from the Tama forum. Unlike Tama, Zildjian doesn't bend as far as special orders and sizes for non endorsers. So I'm hoping Zildjian actually carry through with these. Or at least make some available in their prototype sound lab releases.

I know Sabian is really flexible in terms of producing any cymbal a customer would want. I love Zildjian's sound but I wish they would adapt to Sabian's way of pleasing the customer.
Zildjian needs to expand their small effects cymbals department.

Gus

08-20-2008, 10:32 PM

Hi Gavin & everyone

Is now avalaible through DGM the concert of Chicago 07/08, both mp3 and flac. Here´s the link. We´ve been lucky!

http://www.dgmlive.com/tour.htm

i´m going for it...

Best regards.

BBman

08-21-2008, 06:00 AM

If Zildjian did, you would probably have the most amazing cymbals to go with your insane kits.

angelo

08-21-2008, 05:19 PM

my last question is
how exactly (scientifically...if possible) does the depth of a snare drum change its sound
i know the deeper the snare the fatter the sound
but how exactly does that work ?

Hi drumbumhamza
Many factors incided of the sound of a snare
thicknesses, head, hoop and whatever. I build snares what kind of sound you get?
A deep shell produces sounds darker but also more resonance. Ask me I can help you to build your own snare sound
cheers
Angelo

the baz

08-22-2008, 04:07 PM

Hi Gavin,
I am continually inspired by how original and musical your playing is, as are your books and DVD, (I can't seem to get hold of Rhythmic Visions though)
Hope this is not a stupid question, but when you put your playing under the microscope as you mentioned earlier to get your time better with less flamming etc, when you discovered a discrepancy in your playing, did you just have to practice till it improved or did you actually have to adjust your mental perception of what you thought was feeling ok but sounding a bit late or early when listening back? In any case what did you do to improve your playing to tighten it up with the click?
Regards

Baz

gongbass

08-22-2008, 07:52 PM

Well I tried to pull all the strings I had available at Zildjian. Apparently Gavin's Crash-bells are just prototypes made for him and they did not do a sound lab run off. I was told maybe winter NAMM. : ( You'd think for a guy who has actually bought 100+ plus ZIldjian cymbals in the last few years that they might make some exception.... NO.

Gavin can you put in a word for us pawns!!! : )

Cheers

Gavin Harrison

08-23-2008, 09:19 PM

Hi SantiBanks,

I noticed that Mike Portnoy always videotapes the recordingsessions of the dream theater albums and releases them on his website. They include drum only, whole band and comments soundtracks. I watched some of those and find them particulary interesting and useful for learning and figuring out parts. Any chance to see something similar from you somewhere in the future?

I think I'd find it too distracting to think that everything was being filmed...so no I won't be doing that.

Also, a lot of musicians tape themselves when practicing their instruments to see/hear how they really play. Did you do that a lot when you started and did you find those recordings useful?

I did that all the time when I was younger - and still do it now to some degree. Sometimes things can sound great when you're playing them (especially along to your favorite records) but recording yourself and checking the playback carefully is a good way to keep your feet on the ground. It speaks the truth.

Hi the baz

Hope this is not a stupid question, but when you put your playing under the microscope as you mentioned earlier to get your time better with less flamming etc, when you discovered a discrepancy in your playing, did you just have to practice till it improved or did you actually have to adjust your mental perception of what you thought was feeling ok but sounding a bit late or early when listening back? In any case what did you do to improve your playing to tighten it up with the click?

It's all about hearing it first. If you can't hear if you're rushing or dragging (or being in front or behind the click) you'll never be able to do anything about it. I would practise things nice and slow and try to nail the bass drum hits with the hi hat - same with the snare drum. Just playing really simple patterns - but you can soon focus your ears on it when you know what your listening for. Slowing down the recording helped me hear it more eaily.

cheers
Gavin

raguer

08-24-2008, 02:54 AM

NeuroAxis

08-25-2008, 03:55 AM

hi gav hows going on?

can you recomendate me any software to program some drum loops in odd times to pratice with them along, cause i try some softwares but they dont cuantize or dont have tue option to be programed in odd times, i been thinking about buy one r8 from roland but i preffer some program and its more cheaper do u have any idea?

cheers from mexico
Raul,

There's a very good open source (hence, free) software drum machine called Hydrogen. I've been using it for years to learn odd time patterns (most of the overriding exercises on Gavin's Rhythmic Horizons, for instance).

http://www.hydrogen-music.org/

It says it's for GNU/Linux but there are Windows and Mac versions on the download page. The drum samples they offer for free aren't quite up to the quality standards of other software drum machines but they are pretty damn good, and for practice purposes I have never had a complaint about it.

raguer

08-25-2008, 07:19 AM

hi neuroaxis thanks so much i downloaded the program and its wonderful but i have some questions can u add me to ur msn and help me? my msn is raguer@hotmail.com
thanks so much man¡

Raul,

jado

08-25-2008, 05:54 PM

Gavin,

Greetings from Venezuela, hopefully you'll come someday. I have three questions -maybe they have been already answered in the foum- concerning technical aspects of your playing:

1) When playing live with PT, do you always use a click track? Also, what sound you use for the click? What do you use, eight notes?? Does it differ from the click you use in the studio? Also, is it loud or buried in the mix?

2) From a technical standpoint, who triggers the pre-recorded tracks, and therefore the click? Is it you?

3) Finally, how does a touring drummer makes money and how does it differs from a studio musician? Certainly, I do not want to know specific amounts, but I wanna know how is the "money flow" for working drummers.

Many thanks for your time.

All the best,

Jesus

PD: If someone in the forum wants to comment please do, all opinions are accepted and well taken.

Gavin Harrison

08-25-2008, 06:31 PM

Hi jado,

1) When playing live with PT, do you always use a click track? Also, what sound you use for the click? What do you use, eight notes?? Does it differ from the click you use in the studio? Also, is it loud or buried in the mix?

Many of these questions have been answered before please try the "SEARCH THIS THREAD" link at the bottom of my signature. Not every song has a click - usually just the ones that have a film (which needs to be in sync) or a sound that we can't make in a live situation (like a heavily processed drum loop for example). I use the same click in the studio and live. Here is a link to the exact sounds I use..

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showpost.php?p=318787&postcount=1141

2) From a technical standpoint, who triggers the pre-recorded tracks, and therefore the click? Is it you?

Yes I start and stop them from a remote USB keyboard.

3) Finally, how does a touring drummer makes money and how does it differs from a studio musician? Certainly, I do not want to know specific amounts, but I wanna know how is the "money flow" for working drummers.

Yes you can make money as a touring musician such as a share in the fee that the venue pays (from the ticket sales) and the profit from the merchandise. BUT the expenses can be unbelievably high - so sometimes the profit is nowhere near the amount you might have estimated.

cheers
Gavin

jr100

08-26-2008, 02:42 AM

Hey Gavin;
Is that you playing on the Steven Wilson Insurgentes trailer on youtube? I thought it sounded like you- sounds great by the way, looking forward to the release and also to seeing you at the Modern Drummer Fest in September. Thanks and take care.

Bernhard

08-26-2008, 03:20 PM

Hi Gavin, Hi drummers,

have put a little Promo-Video on my myspace-profil.
The fills are some of Gavin´s favorites, I suppose.

Have a look on it.

Gavin, thanks for your drumming!

Cheers,

Philipp

Sorry for intervene: I think it's so great to have Gavin here for giving advise and great insights into his playing and technique. But please, don't make him uncomfortable by giving him tasks as checking out your drumming. Please post this in the your drumming section.

Bernhard

Bernhard

08-26-2008, 08:39 PM

Sorry Bernhard, Sorry Gavin!

no problem....

Bernhard

SantiBanks

08-27-2008, 11:51 AM

mr.beefhead

08-27-2008, 05:20 PM

Gavin,

I'm enjoying the download of the King Crimson gig. I'm assuming that you weren't extremely familiar with the material beforehand (I'm not either). How do you go about learning a new catalog when you're hired? Do you buy the relevant albums and play along until you feel comfortable or is it mostly done through band rehearsals?

Thanks,
Derek

Gavin Harrison

08-28-2008, 03:09 PM

Hi jr100

Is that you playing on the Steven Wilson Insurgentes trailer on youtube? I thought it sounded like you- sounds great by the way, looking forward to the release and also to seeing you at the Modern Drummer Fest in September. Thanks and take care.

Yes it is. I've recorded a lot of tracks for his new solo album. I believe it's available sometime in November.

Hi drumher

Sorry Bernhard, Sorry Gavin!

No problem.

Hi SantiBanks,

To get back to the clicktrack, do you only hear the clicktrack in your monitormix or also the sequence itself (drummachine/drumloops)

I mix a bit of the sequenced stuff in with the click.

I remember you staring at the videoscreen when I saw you in Amsterdam for the Deadwing tour during Arriving somewhere (the drumloop after the heavy bit) so I'm not sure if you just watched "for fun" or counted the bars there because you don't hear the loop in your monitor...

I was probably just checking that it was in sync.

Hi mr.beefhead

I'm enjoying the download of the King Crimson gig. I'm assuming that you weren't extremely familiar with the material beforehand (I'm not either). How do you go about learning a new catalog when you're hired? Do you buy the relevant albums and play along until you feel comfortable or is it mostly done through band rehearsals?

Robert Fripp came to my house and gave me the tracks to learn. I charted most of them out - and then played along until most of the stuff just began to stick in my head.

Cheers
Gavin

Clint Hopkins

08-29-2008, 02:47 AM

Robert Fripp came to my house and gave me the tracks to learn. I charted most of them out - and then played along until most of the stuff just began to stick in my head.

Cheers
Gavin

Hi Gavin,
I really enjoyed your contribution to KC. Great as always.
I was wondering about the tune "Indiscipline". Is the beginning bass and drum part improvised as far as length or is it a set number of bars?

Thanks,
Clint

Gavin Harrison

08-29-2008, 02:42 PM

Hi Clint,
in the drum solo of "Indiscipline" I just as long as I want and then cue the band into the next section.

cheers
Gavin

NeuroAxis

08-29-2008, 10:01 PM

Gavin -

Just downloaded the Chicago concert from DGM. Phenomenal work from both you and Pat, especially on the drum duets and Indiscipline. I can tell I am gonna be jamming this concert out a lot in the near future. Thanks for the inspiration.

drumbumhamza

08-30-2008, 07:06 AM

drumbumhamza

08-30-2008, 09:15 AM

hello again sir,

i have a couple of tuning issues
i read somewhere in an earlier post that the tuning for a 3 tom set should be something like D A D#
now i did tune them that way but i seem to have tuned (unintentionally) the bottom snare skin to D as well and thats causing some major resonance issues
so what i wanted to ask you was...to what note should i tune my snare (both skins) to get that warm deep sound that you get (i kno there are loads of other parameters as well)

i have a 10mil single-ply Power Center (Evans) on top and the wheatherking emperor clear on the bottom with a 20 strand snares

would be great if you could help :)
thanks

Gavin Harrison

08-30-2008, 06:26 PM

Hi drumbumhamza

dude...pardon my ignorance...but wats DGM ?

Discipline Global Mobile - it's the offical website of King Crimson http://www.dgmlive.com/

i read somewhere in an earlier post that the tuning for a 3 tom set should be something like D A D# now i did tune them that way but i seem to have tuned (unintentionally) the bottom snare skin to D as well and thats causing some major resonance issues
so what i wanted to ask you was...to what note should i tune my snare (both skins) to get that warm deep sound that you get (i kno there are loads of other parameters as well)

At the moment my middle 3 toms are tuned to E - B - D (14" floor, 12" tom, 10" tom) and the snare drum (with the snares off of course) is F#. When you say you have some resonance issues - do you mean the snare sounds strange - or it's making the toms ring in a strange way - or the first tom is setting of a lot of snare buzz? I tend to have the bottom head of the snare drum quite a bit tighter than the top.

i have a 10mil single-ply Power Center (Evans) on top and the wheatherking emperor clear on the bottom with a 20 strand snares

I didn't know they made Emperor for the bottom of a snare drum. That must be very thick double layer right?

Cheers
Gavin

angelo

08-30-2008, 09:29 PM

Hi drumbumhamza
I didn't know they made Emperor for the bottom of a snare drum. That must be very thick double layer right?

Cheers
Gavin

Hi Gavin How are you ?
Emperor hazy head: available in 5 mil Snare Side Heads for a more focused snare response, this is a single ply head is much more thick of Ambassador hazy
Ambassador hazy is a 3mil.
thanks a lot
Angelo

NeuroAxis

08-30-2008, 10:28 PM

dude...pardon my ignorance...but wats DGM ?

If you go to www.dgmlive.com/tour.htm you can download the King Crimson concert from August 8th for $10. It's available in mp3 or high-quality FLAC (digital lossless audio) formats. It's a pretty amazing performance and a good deal for $10, so I recommend it very much.

drumbumhamza

08-31-2008, 12:14 PM

Hi drumbumhamza

dude...pardon my ignorance...but wats DGM ?

Discipline Global Mobile - it's the offical website of King Crimson

@ neuroaxis and gavin : thanks :) will definitely check it out....but i got all super excited because i assumed it was a live "video" and i still havent gotten over deja vroom

@ gavin : sir
sorry the bottom head is not an emperor its an ambassador (i have no clue about remo heads)

i sorted that resonance issue out....the lower skin (and snares) used to vibrate when id hit the first tom...but i retuned the tom to D and now theres no issue

currently my toms are D (12") G# (13") D (16")
and i havent figured out wat my snare is tuned to (i think its B) but it sounds decent to me

i was wondering what gadget you use for a reference note
i use a xylophone

and one more thing (this might sound stupid cuz im not that good with music theory)
when you tune to F#...how does one understand what octave of F# to tune to
and how tight can the heads be stretched

thanks :)

drumbumhamza

08-31-2008, 12:19 PM

Hi Gavin How are you ?
Emperor hazy head: available in 5 mil Snare Side Heads for a more focused snare response, this is a single ply head is much more thick of Ambassador hazy
Ambassador hazy is a 3mil.
thanks a lot
Angelo

thanks :) but i was wrong its an ambassador

xopethx

08-31-2008, 09:17 PM

Hey Gavin!

As you progressed through your career, did you find that your improvisational nature on the kit presented itself as a challenge? When I practice here at home, I'm continuously trying to expand my fill/groove vocabulary, and getting more comfortable with starting and ending fills in odd places. Most of what I play is completely off the cuff (sometimes I still get that "oh man, i'm gonna lose it soon" feeling), but it almost seems like it could be a detriment to me in a session situation. It's just really hard for me to learn an existing part, and just stick to it, adding absolutely nothing. Lack of experience is one cause, i think, but i'm wondering if you had any issues arise because of your desire to be creative in a scenario where that wasn't needed.

thanks much
-chris

Gavin Harrison

09-01-2008, 12:58 AM

Hi xopethx

It's just really hard for me to learn an existing part, and just stick to it, adding absolutely nothing. Lack of experience is one cause, i think, but i'm wondering if you had any issues arise because of your desire to be creative in a scenario where that wasn't needed.

Something that goes hand in hand with being creative - in a situation that is not your own - is to know when it's not needed. If there's a nice groove going on - I'm more than happy to just play the time and concentrate on making it feel as good as I can. You need to sense in certain situations if the artist or producer are going to want that kind of input from you - or they are just looking for a 'no frills' solid job from you. Sometimes I've offered the possibility of other ideas and they've been open to at least hear them. Other times I've felt like it really didn't need it and I should just shut up and play the parts they really want from their demo - or chart.

cheers
Gavin

gibeachhead

09-02-2008, 07:08 PM

Just wanted to post this for everyone:

"Gavin will be performing a 50 minute solo set at the prestigious Modern Drummer Festival, which takes place on the 20th-21st September in the Concert Hall on the State University of New York at Purchase campus. This will be filmed for DVD release next year."

Gus

09-03-2008, 05:25 PM

Hi Gavin

A question about snares... Be cool! is NOT over skins ;-)...
I did read somewhere that your current snare is a 6 ply shell, which seems to be a thin shell, as the Delite series. The snares i know are made with thicker shells, 10 or more.
If this is correct, Do you usually choose snares with thin shells?. Do you get a lower tone with that kind of shells, or just more resonance?.

Many thanks as always.

Gustavo

xopethx

09-04-2008, 08:08 AM

crdirtRider856

09-04-2008, 08:25 AM

[QUOTE=xopethx;476601 do you ever have a problem with your toms detuning by themselves? I've got my tom at a medium-low tuning, and after nearly every song, some of the tuning lugs are loose and the tom sounds totally dead. - My snare also does this over time, typically right where i play rimshotsris[/QUOTE]

(edit).......,. Loose tuning (can) = de-tuning of lugs... In other words, every time you hit a rim-shot, youre hittin the rim hard enough to allow for a little bit of non(dis?)-tension on the head. Which allows the lug-bolts to "un-tune" themselves.The next time you re changing heads- push down on the rim where you are tuning at and notice the difference in tension....when you apply force to a particular area, the tension that holds the lug-bolt in place, disappears...(edit again, sorry)

Sorry Gavin, didnt mean to interject....

Drizzle

09-04-2008, 11:06 AM

Hello Gavin - do you ever have a problem with your toms detuning by themselves? I've got my 10" S-class tom at a medium-low tuning, and after nearly every song, some of the tuning lugs are loose and the tom sounds totally dead. It seems almost like the lugs are over-lubricated, or perhaps i need to try a higher tuning? I play rimshots on the toms often, especially during swiss-army triplets for example. Anyhow, just wondering if you've dealt with this somehow (if it's even affected you, i remember reading somewhere that you have S-Hoops on the toms as well- i'm just using the stock Sonor triple-flange) - My snare also does this over time, typically right where i play rimshots, and even on the bottom head as well.

thanks a bunch for answering all our questions! you're in my opinion one of the greatest assets to the drumming community today!
take care - chris

Get some Tightscrews and your problem is fixed.....but if it's allready after one song you might think about a higher tuning as well..

They have a small nylon insert in the thread which keeps it in place.http://www.bigbangdist.com/tightscrew16z5.jpg

I use them myself on my snares and they work great, no detuning at all, only when the head itselfs detunes over time.

(Their website is down for the moment....don't know why)

Dre

Gavin Harrison

09-05-2008, 01:05 AM

Hi Gus

I did read somewhere that your current snare is a 6 ply shell, which seems to be a thin shell, as the Delite series. The snares i know are made with thicker shells, 10 or more.
If this is correct, Do you usually choose snares with thin shells?. Do you get a lower tone with that kind of shells, or just more resonance?.

As far as I know DeLight are 4 ply with 2 ply support rings inside. A lot of my snares are 6 ply (no internal support rings). With thicker shells - I haven't had so much luck finding 'my sound' inside. I have the 27 ply Sonor Earth finish drum and it's a very high articulate sound - but not so much along the lines of a sound that I hear in my head that would suit me. I've heard Jojo use it and it sounds great. I usually opt for round bearing edges as I want more skin in contact with the wood - and try for a thicker woody tone.

Hi xopethx

do you ever have a problem with your toms detuning by themselves? I've got my 10" S-class tom at a medium-low tuning, and after nearly every song, some of the tuning lugs are loose and the tom sounds totally dead.

I haven't really had that problem. Sure the drum detunes as I play it - but that's more the head being stretched. Drizzle has a good suggestion with those tightscrews - another suggestion would be Lug Locks.

http://www.luglock.com/luglock.htm

cheers
Gavin

study/effort

09-05-2008, 09:01 AM

Liquid_Drummer

09-05-2008, 10:07 PM

Do you have synesthesia ? Do you see that the number 7 always appears blue or some other color ?

If anyone reading this hasnt heard of synesthesia I highly suggest you read up on it. Very fascinating.

NeuroAxis

09-06-2008, 04:33 AM

Hi there Gavin,

I am a fellow drummer from Australia. I enjoy your feel and imagination with the sticks. I would love to ask you a question if I could...
When I am playing and the time might be that a creative fill is required (I improvise a lot of what I do) I notice that during the fill my world turns to colours. I see the music and drum fill in a pattern of colours that I can change and create. Also, I am not on drugs, just to clarify...) I don't need to think about what my hands or feet are doing, they just do what they need to to get the job done.
When you are improvising, do you pre-plan your fill seconds before you play it? Moments before you play it? Or is what you are doing only preceded by your mind's creativity in that instant beforehand?

I appreciate you visiting these boards. It's a rare thing these days for this to exist.

Thanks, Stu

The thing that stuck out to me in your comments was the idea that you don't have to think about what your hands and feet are doing when you are in this state of mind. One of my favorite quotes from the late great Joe Zawinul was that he believed that when you are truly inspired, you have no idea what is going on, you are in a completely different state of mind mentally, completely removed from the physical world (and if you ever saw his face expressions when he played, you can tell he wasn't lying).

DTrocks

09-06-2008, 04:21 PM

Just found this:

OSI III
Added on 09-04-08

I've been working with Jim on our third OSI album for several months now, slowly but surely. Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree) is playing drums on this one - he's nearly done tracking and it sounds great. Along with guitar, Jim is handling bass this time. I still get to sing but may get some help (more later).

Drumcircle70

09-07-2008, 03:34 AM

Mr. Harrison,

Hello, I am a long time drummer ( 25 years) and a first time to post here in the Drummerworld Forums.

First, I would like to say, and I'm sure that I speak for most of us, it is with sincere gratitude that you and many other professionals take the time to read and answer the inquiries that we fellow musicians have. That is a mark of a true professional!

Second, I have just recently been turned on to your playing with Porcupine Tree. A co-worker had burned me a 2 disc compilation and now I'm hooked !!! I must have had my head in the sand to not notice you folks until now.

My question for you is, on your Rhythmic Horizons dvd, what model Zildjian crash cymbals are you using? Particularly on your "Futile" excerpt. I see that they are K customs, but what size and model. also the A custom crash to the right of your Ride?

I sincerely appreciate your time.
Thank you,

Michael
Connecticut,USA

gapwedge

09-07-2008, 11:41 AM

Hiya Gavin.

I see from the clips on the DGM site that for the KC rehearsals at least, you were both playing behind isolation screens.

Can I ask

Did the screens carry though to the show performances?
Is this something that you've done before?
Do you feel that there is any advantage to YOU as the drummer or are the advantages elsehere?
Is it something that you are likely to do again, particularly with PT?

Thanks as always for taking the time to reply to all of the contributors on the forum.

Can't wait to see you and the guys at the Indigo2 next month.

Gavin Harrison

09-07-2008, 09:13 PM

Hi study/effort

When I am playing and the time might be that a creative fill is required (I improvise a lot of what I do) I notice that during the fill my world turns to colours. I see the music and drum fill in a pattern of colours that I can change and create.

Sounds like an interesting experience.

When you are improvising, do you pre-plan your fill seconds before you play it? Moments before you play it? Or is what you are doing only preceded by your mind's creativity in that instant beforehand?

I guess I do all of the above. Sometimes I'll think about a fill that I might have played before - and choose to do something similar. In some places I play the same fill as the record because I think it really works and is an important part of the composition. Other times I'll leave it to one second before I play it - and think of a shape, concept or tonal colours that I want to use - but not the exact fill. Then sometimes I dare myself to just go into a fill with absolutely no ideas and see what happens. It very much depends on my mood on the night. Occasionally I'm in a humorous mood and play fills that I know will make the other members laugh. Recently (during an improvised solo in King Crimson) I decided to play like the drummer from "The Shaggs".
It's true that when you're really improvising - afterwards you can't really remember what you played.

Hi DTrocks

OSI III

yes, I've been playing on their new album and it's coming out REALLY good. I look forward to hearing the finished thing.

Hi Drumcircle70

My question for you is, on your Rhythmic Horizons dvd, what model Zildjian crash cymbals are you using? Particularly on your "Futile" excerpt. I see that they are K customs, but what size and model. also the A custom crash to the right of your Ride?

I'm guessing you don't have my DVD? There's a section on the B Side that shows all the equipment that I use. So, on that tune the Zildjian cymbals from left to right are:
13" K Hi Hats
18" K Custom Fast Crash
8" EFX
15" K Custom Dark Crash
20" Avedis ride (from the late 1940's)
18" A Custom Crash
12" Oriental China Trash
20" A Custom Swish

Hi gapwedge

I see from the clips on the DGM site that for the KC rehearsals at least, you were both playing behind isolation screens.
Did the screens carry though to the show performances?

Yes they did - although they didn't really end up tight around the drums (like the rehearsals) they were placed more towards the front line guys as barriers.

Is this something that you've done before?

Yes, with different artists I have.

Do you feel that there is any advantage to YOU as the drummer or are the advantages elsehere?

No, it makes communication more difficult with the other musicians.

Is it something that you are likely to do again, particularly with PT?

It wasn't my choice to do it in the first place. In KC it was about the front line guys getting blasted with too much drums and cymbals. I have no plans to do it with PT.

cheers
Gavin

DTrocks

09-07-2008, 10:32 PM

Then my question is: When will the new OSI album be released? Really looking forward to it now! It's going to be cool to hear what your aproach to that kind of music is... I think it will fit your style better than portnoy's...

study/effort

09-08-2008, 01:30 AM

Hi Gavin,

That is basically what I was talking about. Shape, colours and tone. It all adds up into a character and I believe being a good drummer is having the ability to use your personality/character well when it is brought to a song so it suits the mood/character of said song.
Gavin, you do this extremely well. Your exacting playing suits Porcupine Tree but I could rattle of many, many parts where I can see your personality (purely) in the part you are playing.

Liquid_Drummer:

Yes, I do believe that I have synesthesia. I have known it for a number of years that that is what it is called, but have had it my whole life. The main way it shows up is that every single word that I say or hear I see spelled in my mind. (black background with white block lettering). I shows up in real time in either single words or short phrases. Each phrase deleted by the next one that is said/heard. It makes me a very good speller! When it comes to drums, there aren't any 'words' being said so I guess it triggers the synesthesia into turning into colours and shapes. Works for me. As Gavin said "an interesting experience" hehe.

NeuroAxis:

I appreciated your comment about inspiration. When it is happening it is the best thing about music. It turns off the processing that my brain does constantly and gives me that little break, even if only for two seconds.

FearOfaPlanetWithoutGavin

09-08-2008, 09:33 AM

Hey Gavin a couple of personal questions.

1.- What do you think about Chris Maitland as a drummer and as a person (in case you know him), and Antonio Sanchez from Pat Metheny?

2.- I read a previous comment and you said you like Lyle Mays work, would you like to do something with Pat and Lyle in the future?

Gavin Harrison

09-08-2008, 02:37 PM

Hi DTrocks

Then my question is: When will the new OSI album be released?

I've no idea.

Hi FearOfaPlanetWithoutGavin

1.- What do you think about Chris Maitland as a drummer and as a person (in case you know him), and Antonio Sanchez from Pat Metheny?

Chris is a great drummer - I've only met him once and he seemed like a very nice guy. I don't know Antonio Sanchez but I recently watched a DVD of him playing with Pat Metheny and he sounded very good indeed. A very nice musically interesting situation.

2.- I read a previous comment and you said you like Lyle Mays work, would you like to do something with Pat and Lyle in the future?

Yes, and I've been staring at my phone wondering why they haven't called yet!!!

cheers
Gavin

Gus

09-08-2008, 07:41 PM

Hi Gavin

I´ve been listening the concert of Chicago and it´s amazing. They are songs that i know for a loooong time, and this time the main difference to me, is the drum section. I think there´s a lot of improvisation around...isn´t it?. So congratulations for your job. By the moment, what i love the most, are those great snare rolls in 'elephant talk'... Hope don´t be wrong that it is you playing that part!!!

Best regards.

Drizzle

09-08-2008, 10:58 PM

Hey Gavin,

I saw that you'll be playing at the PASIC Convention....is this something you feel honoured about or is it just another clinic. To me PASIC is allways a little different then other 'festivals'..
Will you be doing special things just for it or will it be your 'normal' clinic?

Greetz,
Dre

Ps. how is the double drop clutch coming along???

Gavin Harrison

09-10-2008, 10:22 AM

Hi Gus

I´ve been listening the concert of Chicago and it´s amazing. They are songs that i know for a loooong time, and this time the main difference to me, is the drum section. I think there´s a lot of improvisation around...isn´t it?. So congratulations for your job. By the moment, what i love the most, are those great snare rolls in 'elephant talk'... Hope don´t be wrong that it is you playing that part!!!

Thanks for the comments. There are moments where we improvise and others that have a definite structure.

Hi Drizzle

I saw that you'll be playing at the PASIC Convention....is this something you feel honoured about or is it just another clinic. To me PASIC is allways a little different then other 'festivals'..Will you be doing special things just for it or will it be your 'normal' clinic? Ps. how is the double drop clutch coming along???

I feel very honoured to be asked to play at PASIC. I've never been there before so I'm looking forward to it. I haven't decided what I'll play yet. I might do some new stuff from my new (2nd) record with 05Ric that I'm recording right now.
I'm still thinking about the drop clutch thing - I'm in contact with my engineer friend and we have some ideas.

cheers
Gavin

drumbumhamza

09-11-2008, 11:23 AM

hi
i was watching the jeff ocheltree dvd (trust your ears) and he was showcasing john bonham's acrylic kit and he kept saying its a LIVE kit not to be used in the studio....any idea what he meant by that ?
he said always use wooden kits in the studio...?

also he used felt straps on both the heads of the bass drum and said it helps to focus the sound...is this equivalent of muffling ? and howcome we dont use it anymore ?

cheers

steste50

09-11-2008, 01:28 PM

Hello Gavin,

The sound u achieved on the drums recorded on the dvd rhythmic vision is incredibly beautiful. I'd like to ask u what's the chain of gear u used for recording it and what/if u used any effect/compressor/equalizer, especially for the snare drum.

Thx and Regards

Gavin Harrison

09-13-2008, 01:50 AM

Hi drumbumhamza

i was watching the jeff ocheltree dvd (trust your ears) and he was showcasing john bonham's acrylic kit and he kept saying its a LIVE kit not to be used in the studio....any idea what he meant by that ? he said always use wooden kits in the studio...?

I've seen that DVD too. I guess what he means is that John preferred the sound of the wooden kits in the studio.

also he used felt straps on both the heads of the bass drum and said it helps to focus the sound...is this equivalent of muffling ? and howcome we dont use it anymore ?

I remember seeing that many years ago. I think it's more to do with bass drums that have no holes in the front. It's a nice sound - but today's sound engineers usually end up wanting to place a mic by a hole in the front head.

Hi steste50

I'd like to ask u what's the chain of gear u used for recording it and what/if u used any effect/compressor/equalizer, especially for the snare drum.

It's been pretty well discussed here - (have a go with the "Search This Thread" engine that's at the bottom my signature). I talked about compressors and reverbs here..

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showpost.php?p=306209&postcount=991

..but there's a lot more stuff if you want to search around. It would be almost impossible to recreate that sound because of the huge amount of variables involved.

cheers
Gavin

drumbumhamza

09-13-2008, 02:26 AM

I remember seeing that many years ago. I think it's more to do with bass drums that have no holes in the front. It's a nice sound - but today's sound engineers usually end up wanting to place a mic by a hole in the front head.

ah that has to be it... cause there was no hole in his bass drum and the mic was placed about an inch away from the skin...he miced the batter side too

thanks for the info :)

Gus

09-13-2008, 12:40 PM

Hi drumbumhamza & Gavin

[also he used felt straps on both the heads of the bass drum and said it helps to focus the sound...is this equivalent of muffling ? and howcome we dont use it anymore ?

I remember seeing that many years ago. I think it's more to do with bass drums that have no holes in the front. It's a nice sound - but today's sound engineers usually end up wanting to place a mic by a hole in the front head.[/I]

Along with this, this is what Steve Smith does in his 20" bass drum, no holes, two felts straps, but with an internal mounting mic as difference. it may be seen in his DVD 'drumset technique & history of US beat' where he discusses it.

Best regards

ProgRockPaul

09-14-2008, 03:11 PM

Hi Gavin

May I just say it is an awesome privilege to read your posts and experience your interaction on this forum. We ProgRock fans sometimes get carried away with our own pomposity with regards to other ("lesser") music forms, so, to interact with you here is a truly humbling and inspirational experience.
Thank you!

Your drum recording setup on Sleep of No Dreaming was absolutely phenomenal - arguably the most lush drum recording I have ever heard - with the wash of your Crash cymbal in the verse sections perfectly EQ'd and timed, and all your playing, as always perfectly executed.
I haven't played drums for years, and have been threatening to buy a kit for some time. My family has been threatened with death every time they try squeeze furniture into the open spot of my lounge which I've reserved for my soon-coming drum kit, and even though it has gathered dust for some months, that spot will be filled by only one item.
My point is that having gorged myself aurally on a diet of ProgRock headed by yourself and PT, the time for completing my lounge has now arrived. Yep! It's your fault!
;-)
Thanks for being such an inspiration, and for making the pursuit of tight technical drumming achievable. I can't wait to sit down on my kit with some of your training material, and will definitely be using your self-recording technique to correct my lazy bass drum foot.

Thanks again!
Paul

PS - Please come and tour South Africa soon!

Sol Good

09-14-2008, 07:28 PM

Your drum recording setup on Sleep of No Dreaming was absolutely phenomenal - arguably the most lush drum recording I have ever heard - with the wash of your Crash cymbal in the verse sections perfectly EQ'd and timed, and all your playing, as always perfectly executed.

It's Chris Maitland on that track (and all of the Signify album) - not Gavin. Great drumming though, nonetheless.

ProgRockPaul

09-14-2008, 07:47 PM

It's Chris Maitland on that track (and all of the Signify album) - not Gavin. Great drumming though, nonetheless.

*blush* Don't I feel like a right royal charlie right now!
Sorry Gavin - disregard that section - but the rest still applies (Deadwing on repeat on my pc, my car and my home sound system, and all my drumming friends directed to your myspace project. Awesome stuff!)

Sol Good

09-15-2008, 04:38 AM

Gavin,

Really nice work on the new Richard Barbieri album. On "All Fall Down", did you overdub the ride cymbal or are you playing those snare rolls between ride cymbal beats? Whatever it is, it's a great effect - almost Gadd-esque but still original. Danny Thompson sounds great on that song, too.

Thanks for you time,
Sol

drumbumhamza

09-15-2008, 04:13 PM

hey gus
i think i have that dvd somewhere havent watched it yet
his 20" sonor jungle is simple brilliant sounding

hehe internal micing sounds like a major pain for his techy :P
any idea how he supports it inside ?
as in is it a clip mic or something else ?

Gus

09-15-2008, 05:01 PM

Hi drumbumhamza

The mic is fixed at the drum using the screws that holds the hardware of the shell, not difficult i suppose. You can see pics and videos in that link

http://www.dwdrums.com/may/

And yes, Steve kick sounds good. He has new videos in his Drummerworld site, many thanks Bernhard you're great!!!, that may be seen.

Best regards

gongbass

09-15-2008, 09:09 PM

Gavin,

Any more insight into those amazing "Crash bells" you are helping Zildjian to design? I was told by Zildjian that the R & D department is still working on them with you. Do you know if they'll be released in the near future or still too early to tell?

Gavin Harrison

09-16-2008, 01:24 AM

Hi Sol Good

Really nice work on the new Richard Barbieri album. On "All Fall Down", did you overdub the ride cymbal or are you playing those snare rolls between ride cymbal beats? Whatever it is, it's a great effect - almost Gadd-esque but still original. Danny Thompson sounds great on that song, too.

Thanks. No overdubbing of cymbals - it was all played together. That wasn't even meant to be the take - I was just having a run through (which luckily was recorded) and Richard said that was exactly what he was looking for. Danny always sounds - and it's a pleasure to record him.

Hi gongbass

Any more insight into those amazing "Crash bells" you are helping Zildjian to design? I was told by Zildjian that the R & D department is still working on them with you. Do you know if they'll be released in the near future or still too early to tell?

Work in progress. I've got no news of a release for you.

cheers
Gavin

bdbuss

09-17-2008, 01:19 AM

Gavin,

I can't tell you how much of an honor it is to post this.... even if you don't find the time to reply. I'm a very recent fan of yours (approx 1 yr). After much soul searching, intensive thought experiments, and mathematical analysis, I have come to only one inevitable conclusion: you are not really from this planet. Being a drummer of many years, I am utterly dumbfounded watching you play. I just don't understand how you do it. To compound the problem, a friend just loaned me his copy of "Arriving Somewhere...". He might has well given me a vial of crack. The concert pounded me into speechlessness. If you knew me.... or my background..... only then would you know how much a feat that truly is. You are an amazing musician, and I deeply and humbly appreciate this forum thread which allows me to get this off my chest. Also, it is a rare thing for a person of your caliper to make themselves available to the general public...... which is just as amazing to me as your abilities.

OK, enough drool..... I'm happily married and not a stalker. The real reason for this post is to ask you a few things:

1.) Do you know of a drummer who you believe to be better than you? Better, of course, is a subjective term. (Good luck with this one)

2.) In studio videos, I see you wearing these huge cans..... probably for quality and isolation. In concert, you typically use the in-ear type of headphones..... no doubt good for extended wear and flexibility. 3 years ago, I invested in a pair of isolating headphones that have changed the way I listen to music..... Etymotic ER-4Ps. Please understand I have no affiliation with this company whatsoever.... I just love them so much, I had to tell you about them. I figure if I'm a fan of two things.... why not introduce them to each other? You should give them a try. If you did, you would not find a better solution for your needs. They don't noise "cancel".... they just isolate. They are linear, dynamic, and colorless. The only warning I have, is that you have to push them babies deeeeeeeeep into the canal for a good seal.... which provides a more robust response in the lower frequencies. I get the best response with they touch in the middle :) The better the seal, the better the isolation. The better the isolation, the better the dynamic range. The better the dynamic range, the less you have to crank them up to surpass external noise. The less you have to crank them up, the longer your ears will last. At first, they made my ears uncomfortable no doubt from something foreign they were not used to, but that went away after a short time. Oh, and by the way.... flip the cord so it runs down your back. You freak me out when I see the cord hanging down your front side. I keep thinking you'll get your arms tangled.................. freak!

3.) This is a more serious question. When you want to look at your home world, what type of telescope do you use?

Since I don't subscribe to the "whacked-out-fan-theory", this will be my one and only post..... unless of course I see you in a video with new headphones..... then I'm likely to ask you what you think about them.

Ultimate regards,
Brad

steste50

09-19-2008, 08:44 PM

Hi Gavin,

One of the things i hoped to watch is you on the Modern Drummer Festival stage and... there you are. I can't be there in person but i just wanted to tell you that that makes me so happy because that's not a place for everybody and i was wondering y you had not been called there yet. Now i'm happy and i look forward to watch your "work" on the (i hope) future MD dvd.... some drummers are able to spread energy and inspiration to the people who can get'em.................... I hope you understand the big feelings of a real FAN that i am :)

Congratulations and 10q for your precious advices that are on any media around

Stefano

Gavin Harrison

09-20-2008, 01:18 AM

Hi bdbuss

1.) Do you know of a drummer who you believe to be better than you? Better, of course, is a subjective term. (Good luck with this one)

Ever drummer is better than me at being themselves, and likewise, I'm the only one who's perfect at doing "myself" (mistakes and all).

2.) In studio videos, I see you wearing these huge cans..... probably for quality and isolation. In concert, you typically use the in-ear type of headphones..... no doubt good for extended wear and flexibility. 3 years ago, I invested in a pair of isolating headphones that have changed the way I listen to music..... Etymotic ER-4Ps.

I've tried a couple of in-ear monitors but I'm not familiar with the ones you're describing. I prefer 'custom molds' because of the comfort and isolation.

cheers
Gavin

TomasHakkesBrain

09-20-2008, 01:20 AM

Hi Gavin, just heard you are working with OSI that is great news. I was thinking of a British supergroup..try and hook up a trio with Justin Chancellor and Matt Bellamy and i would die happy!!

Also i asked you a few years ago if you knew Frost you said no. It's fronted by Jem Godfrey songwriter for Atomic Kitten and other 'bands'. Their new album will be a prog classic http://www.youtube.com/user/planetfrost

Cheers

Andy

gibeachhead

09-20-2008, 01:40 AM

Hey Gavin,

During the first verse of "Way Out of Here", amongst other things, it sounds like you are playing on the rims of your toms; are you? It sure sounds like it, and it is done so tastefully.

Thanks for your replies Gavin!

Brent

Trip McNealy

09-22-2008, 06:08 AM

Gavin, nice to meet you at the MD Festival this weekend. Great performance and I was really liking your grooves and breakdown of the many odd-time signatured songs you played. I must admit, I lost counting sometimes! Something I have to work on, heh.

All the best, mate. See you again sometime!

Dominick

ProgFron

09-22-2008, 11:46 PM

Hi Gavin,

Just saw a video of your performance on www.hudsonmusic.com/festival.
Congrats, it is sounding amazing as always. You never seize to amaze me with your playing.
Do you happen to know if your entire performance will be on the DVD or just portions?

I'll see you both days in Tilburg in a few weeks.
Hope to meet you after one of the shows.

Cheers,

Francis

Derek Roddy

09-23-2008, 07:12 PM

Gavin....was great to meet and hang out. Your performance was entirely kick ass. I walked away with a head full of ideas!!! Haha.

Hope to see you again soon and travel safely back home.

Cheers.
D.

mind_drummer

09-23-2008, 10:07 PM

Yeah Gavin, like the others said and more will tell you, your performance was awesome with lot of energy, creativity and musicality.

You're a freaking awesome drummer.

Ciao, take care & A+

Big_Philly

09-24-2008, 01:18 AM

Your performance was entirely kick ass. I walked away with a head full of ideas!!!

That happens to me too when I listen to Gavin's playing :)

I was watching a video of you at the MD festival, great performance! And what a beautiful kit, what kind is it? I find that finish very interesting.

Gavin Harrison

09-24-2008, 02:07 PM

Many thanks for the comments about the MD festival. I had a blast - an amazing weekend that I'll never forget. Great to meet so many fantastic drummers and hang out with them at the show (and at the bar in the hotel).
It was quite daunting to go on and perform next to all these guys - and pretty surreal in a way. I guess I could have always played better (mind you, I think that after every show) - but I know I gave it my best shot under the circumstances.

ProgFron - I don't know if all of my performance will be on the DVD.

Big_Philly - that was a "Golden Madrone" finish on the Sonor SQ2 set.

Hi gibeachhead

During the first verse of "Way Out of Here", amongst other things, it sounds like you are playing on the rims of your toms; are you? It sure sounds like it, and it is done so tastefully.

Thanks, actually it's the rim of the snare drum.

cheers
Gavin

deebz

09-24-2008, 07:48 PM

I will personally pick a fight with anyone who isn't brought to tears by Gavin's polyrhythms.

He is not human, and everyone knows it.

You can't be that good at drums and still be made of human flesh and bone.

He's got to be a robot or something.

It's the only valid conclusion.

I'm thinking he has a computer that was artificially embedded into his brain to make him so good.

Just like Danny Carey apparently has a "daemon" lodged within him.

Thank you Gavin for inspiring me never to play a 4/4 groove again.

And thank you for inspiring millions of drummers round the world.

You're just so good at drums it's literally reeeeediculous.

K.Howden

09-25-2008, 09:01 PM

Hi Gavin, how are you?

I have a couple of (maybe quite lengthy) questions about Fear of a Blank Planet and Nil Recurring. I couldn't help notice the parallels (unintentional as they may be) between those two releases and Radiohead's "Kid A" and "Amnesiac" which was released 8 months after Kid A. T
hey were both recorded in the same sessions but both have different sounds but the concepts are related, Amnesiac being an about "Kid A's" (the character) reaction to and reflection on what has happened on "Kid A" (the album). It seems to me that Fear of a Blank Planet is about the describing circumstances and what is happening to a young Person(s) but then in Nil Recurring you have a song like Normal which seems to be the young Person(s) reflecting on what is happening.
I know that Steven is a Radiohead fan and was wondering if this concept or idea was at all bearing on how you released the material from those sessions?

Going to the Musical side of things, both of the above Radiohead albums are quite different musically as are Fear of a Blank Planet and Nill Recurring (to my ears), I was wondering how you manage to maintain two Musical Mind-sets over the period of a single Session and how do they affect each other? i.e. do you find it hard to choose between two or more ways or mind-sets of doing or approaching one piece of Music? Or do you find things filter naturally and seperate themselves out?

Hope you're well,

Kev

Gavin Harrison

09-26-2008, 06:10 PM

Hi K.Howden

It seems to me that Fear of a Blank Planet is about the describing circumstances and what is happening to a young Person(s) but then in Nil Recurring you have a song like Normal which seems to be the young Person(s) reflecting on what is happening.
I know that Steven is a Radiohead fan and was wondering if this concept or idea was at all bearing on how you released the material from those sessions?

Not as far as I'm aware of.

Going to the Musical side of things, both of the above Radiohead albums are quite different musically as are Fear of a Blank Planet and Nill Recurring (to my ears), I was wondering how you manage to maintain two Musical Mind-sets over the period of a single Session and how do they affect each other? i.e. do you find it hard to choose between two or more ways or mind-sets of doing or approaching one piece of Music? Or do you find things filter naturally and seperate themselves out?

Personally I didn't have two mind sets and can't really hear the difference from FOABP and Nil Recurring. The songs were all recorded around the same time - it was only at the last minute that "Cheating The Polygraph" was replaced by "Way Out Of Here" and the track "Nil Recurring" almost made it onto the main album too. My approach to both sets of songs was the same. Maybe as a listener you can hear things that I can't - after working on them for so long you start to lose your mind.

cheers
Gavin

K.Howden

09-26-2008, 07:58 PM

Hi K.Howden

Personally I didn't have two mind sets and can't really hear the difference from FOABP and Nil Recurring. The songs were all recorded around the same time - it was only at the last minute that "Cheating The Polygraph" was replaced by "Way Out Of Here" and the track "Nil Recurring" almost made it onto the main album too. My approach to both sets of songs was the same. Maybe as a listener you can hear things that I can't - after working on them for so long you start to lose your mind.

cheers
Gavin

Well the main difference I hear between the two is the intensity of the playing (not just the Drums) at a technical level. FOABP sounds a lot more measured to me, for example I hear a lot more Rhythmic Illusions and Odd-measures on Nill Recurring where as a lot of the songs sound a lot straight ahead Timing wise on FOABP. Also the Timbre and Sounds of the Guitar seem to have a different quality to them than those on FOABP.
I guess its one of those intagible things that can't really be describe adequatley with words, they both seem to have their distinctive flavours to me and I don't know why but I always see Nil Recurring as being coloured Orange and FOABP Blue as the album cover suggets (don't ask! haha) but both Albums are stunning all the same.

I guess that's the great thing about Music though, the fact that no two People will interpret the same piece of Music the same and the creator of the Music is the only person who will really know what it means.

Cheers for taking the time to reply to all these questions you recieve, its much appreciated,

Kev

PTEmil

09-28-2008, 05:10 PM

Hello Gavin

Me and some of my classmates are planning to do a cover off Anesthetize on our scen project at school. I find the second part quite tricky at some parts. So therefore I wonder if you have any video laying around in your computer or such where we can see you playing especially part. 2 in the song. It would be a great help for me and I would really appreciate it!

Thanks! /Emil

steste50

09-28-2008, 10:23 PM

Hi Gavin, 2 questions please:

1. I want to buy the EV N/D408's as they seem good for not to being in the way of close to toms cymbals, but i found only the N/D468 on the market. DO u know if there's any difference between them?
2. Do u know any GOOD notation software for Mac (apart from the super known Sibelius) that's GOOD for drum scores? Possibly with the MIDI in/out option.

Thank U in advance,
come play to Italy soon! :)
Stefano

Johnny

09-29-2008, 12:06 AM

Pardon my barging in but NoteAbilityPro is a very good notation program for Mac.

Gavin Harrison

09-29-2008, 12:38 PM

Hi PTEmil

Me and some of my classmates are planning to do a cover off Anesthetize on our scen project at school. I find the second part quite tricky at some parts. So therefore I wonder if you have any video laying around in your computer or such where we can see you playing especially part. 2 in the song. It would be a great help for me and I would really appreciate it!

There is no video of me playing that song at the moment. However - I did play it at the Modern drummer Festival and it was filmed - due to be released on DVD early 2009. Also we probably will film it on the next PT DVD - which most likely will be released around spring next year. It's quite a tricky song to play.

Hi steste50

1. I want to buy the EV N/D408's as they seem good for not to being in the way of close to toms cymbals, but i found only the N/D468 on the market. DO u know if there's any difference between them?

I have had both 408 and 468 and as far as I can tell they are exactly the same. I know the 408 isn't available anymore.

2. Do u know any GOOD notation software for Mac (apart from the super known Sibelius) that's GOOD for drum scores? Possibly with the MIDI in/out option.

I believe "Finale" is good - but I haven't tried it.

cheers
Gavin

Swiss Matthias

09-29-2008, 11:46 PM

Hello to you all!

I'm new here, though I've been lurking around 2-3 times. This monster thread is the very reason I'm now registered:D!

Hello Gavin - maybe you've seen my e-mail, I saw your post were you said something like "post it in this forum and I check it" - so I'd like to post my very humble transcribed versions of some of your great fills on PT albums. It would be great if you comment them, and if necessary (I think so actually...) correct some of the stuff.

Thank you very much - love your playing!

Matthias

Swiss Matthias

09-29-2008, 11:50 PM

Well, the attachments....

Swiss Matthias

09-30-2008, 12:28 AM

By the way (to all the forum members), I know some of the fills may already be explained and discussed in this thread, I'm going through all the pages now, but that'll need quite some time:). So in the end I'm gonna see it all. So don't get irritated or whatever...;)

ElevenFour

09-30-2008, 02:36 AM

Hi Gavin,

Bravo on your MD performance! Despite the bad acoustics where I was sitting, it was great to have the opportunity to see you play live!

I thought the story Simon told about how he used to play with your father a while ago to be a fantastic introduction....it truly is a smaller world in music!

Anyways, my question (if you don't mind answering) is more of one around how you came to be. How did you grow up practicing? Did you ever feel like you hit a wall technically and how did you overcome the challenges that made you the drummer you are today?

Cheers,

Jesse

Swiss Matthias

09-30-2008, 02:27 PM

Hi Alex,
I'm glad you like the sound of my kitchen.

It can depend on the style of music but here's the set up I used on that track:

Dualit Toaster
Dualit Kettle
Leisure Sink
unknown juicer

I'd really like to get a Dualit endorsement - they have easily the best sound.

The funny thing is that my studio and kitchen are on opposite sides of the house - so I would go to the studio - put the computer in record (8 bars before I needed to play) and then run to the kitchen, put on the headphones and start to play various parts of the kitchen. Many times I would make a mistake in the first bar - and then I would have to run back to the studio (quite often forgetting to take the headphones off - so they would strangle me half way down the hallway) and go and press stop/delete on the computer. And then start over again. I must have run backwards and forwards 50 times during that recording. I don't know why I didn't take my powerbook down to the kitchen and just record it there!!!

Cheers
Gavin
Hahaha, that was just too funny to read!!

Zildjian232

09-30-2008, 02:36 PM

Gavin,

Congrats on the MDF of course. I will definitely check out the PT dvd and the MDF dvd when they come out.

I just have a question related to the rhythmic horizons dvd. In the resolving section(i believe) you talk about using the groups of 3's 5's and 7's in your fills, in just a basic 4 bar phrase. When i saw you doing it, i was like "alright not so bad" then i tried it in my jazz improv class(while trading 4s)....didnt go so well......and displacing the 1st beat and not starting the fill on 1...forget about it. How do you gain that 2nd sense of that 4 beat measure, when you are throwing around 16th note groupings in other time signatures? I just start counting those 16th note groupings and lose my place in the measure. Any tips on how to approach thinking about/playing that kind of stuff. I can kind of see playing something like that in a fill when you have bass laying down that foundation, but in complete silence...i dont know.

best regards,

mike

PTEmil

09-30-2008, 07:39 PM

DTrocks

09-30-2008, 10:38 PM

Hey!

I just saw the new Insurgentes trailer (trailer No.2). Absolutley amazing! Is it you that play the drums on the track used in the trailer?

AMAZING job at the MD festival by the way! Loved it! I was a little dissappointed with the snaredrum sound on the video..No punch at all. But of course that must have been the sound-guy messing up.. Cause I know how good your designer snare sounds!

Best regards!

Pandrex

10-01-2008, 12:41 AM

The MD festival video sample thing of you playing sounds very nice, I'm looking to forward to seeing more videos soon.

Looking forward to new PT DVD and new SW album as well.

I also bought Rythmic Visions recently, some the time modulation+subdividing exercises are insane, especially when you do it when 7's and 9's. I really want to get my hands on your more recent DVD.

Gavin Harrison

10-01-2008, 11:11 AM

Hi Swiss Matthias

so I'd like to post my very humble transcribed versions of some of your great fills on PT albums. It would be great if you comment them, and if necessary (I think so actually...) correct some of the stuff.

thanks for the transcriptions they look really good.

Hi ElevenFour

How did you grow up practicing? Did you ever feel like you hit a wall technically and how did you overcome the challenges that made you the drummer you are today?

I would often hit a wall technically when I was a kid - because my 'rhythm brain' wasn't developed enough to understand the problems. Perseverance was the only way forward. It wasn't until my imagination really kicked that I started to develop my own stuff - and that was when I was around 17 - 18 years old.

Hi Zildjian232

I just have a question related to the rhythmic horizons dvd. In the resolving section(i believe) you talk about using the groups of 3's 5's and 7's in your fills, in just a basic 4 bar phrase. When i saw you doing it, i was like "alright not so bad" then i tried it in my jazz improv class(while trading 4s)....didnt go so well......and displacing the 1st beat and not starting the fill on 1...forget about it. How do you gain that 2nd sense of that 4 beat measure, when you are throwing around 16th note groupings in other time signatures? I just start counting those 16th note groupings and lose my place in the measure. Any tips on how to approach thinking about/playing that kind of stuff. I can kind of see playing something like that in a fill when you have bass laying down that foundation, but in complete silence...i dont know.

Of course it's easier to play that stuff over a bass line - because you end up using the bass line as a reference. So when you play it without a bass line you must have a very strong sense of the bar line (in whatever time signature you're playing). I find it helps to practice that kind of thing over a musical background at first so you tend to not get lost. Then try it without. Doing things like 16th note displacements in a solo a pretty dangerous - because you're easily going to lose the other musicians - unless they are aware that you're going to do that kind of thing.

How do you gain that 2nd sense of that 4 beat measure, when you are throwing around 16th note groupings in other time signatures?

Lots of practice and (as I said above) perseverance.

HI PTEmil

Have you ever heard The Grudge by Tool? If so, what do you think of Danny's playing, especially in the ending drum-solo?

Yes I know Danny and he's a great player - certainly plays some great stuff on that track. No, I don't know what he's playing at the end there.

Hi DTrocks

I just saw the new Insurgentes trailer (trailer No.2). Absolutley amazing! Is it you that play the drums on the track used in the trailer?

Yes that's me playing on that track.

AMAZING job at the MD festival by the way! Loved it! I was a little dissappointed with the snaredrum sound on the video..No punch at all. But of course that must have been the sound-guy messing up.. Cause I know how good your designer snare sounds!

Fear not - I'm remixing it right now. What you hear on the clip is the rough mix they made live during the show.

Hi Pandrex

I also bought Rythmic Visions recently, some the time modulation+subdividing exercises are insane, especially when you do it when 7's and 9's. I really want to get my hands on your more recent DVD.

Thanks - It's available via my website. www.drumset.demon.co.uk

cheers
Gavin

alinux

10-01-2008, 04:13 PM

Today arrived my copy of "drop"

I must say, it's really interesting project. I like it very much.
Plus for my birthday I received a great present: "Arriving Somewhere..." DVD :)
Wow wow wow! Great again!

Just wanted to share my happiness!

Vladimer

Swiss Matthias

10-01-2008, 10:59 PM

thanks for the transcriptions they look really good.

Thanks Gavin!

What drove mad the most was that fill of Fear Of a Blank Planet, at 5:01. Can you tell me if I got that right? After listening to it for a million times, my ear started to hear various stuff, including some 5:2 or 7:2 stuff. I'm in doubt especially because of this one "lonely" 32nd-note tom right at the end...

Terry Branam

10-01-2008, 11:06 PM

Hey Swiss Matthias,

Here is my take on the fill you are asking about.

As always, subdivisions are subjective but I think it is close.

Hope it helps,

Terry

NeuroAxis

10-02-2008, 04:49 PM

Hello Gavin

Have you ever heard The Grudge by Tool? If so, what do you think of Danny's playing, especially in the ending drum-solo?

Question to everyone including Gavin:

The last few seconds of the Grudge drum-solo, Danny pulls off a amazing tomwork. It's only toms I think, perhaps a snare. I wonder if ANYONE (as there seems to be quite alot Tool fans around here) know excatcly how that short part is played? It's only 5 seconds or something, but incredibly hard to memorize how he plays. I would really, really appreciate it if someone would make a piece of drum-notes for those 5-6 secs, or perhaps a video where it is being played really slow.

Thanks for reading!
/Emil

This guy gets it pretty close...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJHYgSs_fwA&feature=related

...except the part at about 0:35; this guy plays the alternating ruffs between the floor tom and double bass whereas Danny plays them between the snare and double bass.

On the recording, there are toms and snare, but sometimes Danny's snare sound can be deceptive as he usually plays with the snares off (at least from Aenima on).

It's a difficult piece to learn, but I just listened to it thousands of times until it got under my skin. I highly recommend trudging through it, as for me it is one of the most satisfying songs to jam on when I sit down to practice.

Hope that helps...

Chris D

10-03-2008, 03:34 AM

Hello Gavin,

I have little story for you...I started playing when I was 12 years old studied with Joe Morello for 3 years and did realy well playing across the US in a band of great guy's. Well I stopped playing to get Married and live a "normal" life....that was 25 years ago I now have 3 boys who play the guitar, and drums and I still have my original set of Ludwig drums circa 1965....

I have to thank you because I have stated playing again..I believe that alot is in your head anyway...but the real reason I started again is that my son's bought me tickets to the August 12 King Crimson show at the Keswick Theater and it was that night after seeing you that I knew I had to start playing again...I can not thank you enough, the show and your playing was inspiring....so I guess you never know who is watching your shows and what it means to some people. Well it was a wake up for me...

Any advise on tuning?????

again thanks a million !!!!!!

Chris D

PS My wife thanks you to Ha! Ha!

DTrocks

10-03-2008, 02:03 PM

Ah. Awesome job then! Usually it's pretty easy to recognice your drumming and your style, but this time I struggled a bit....I'm always impressed by how you manage to find the perfect groove for every song. Keep up the good work!

When will the remixed version of your performance be ready? And were can I watch it?

Cheers!

Gavin Harrison

10-04-2008, 12:34 AM

Hi Chris D

but the real reason I started again is that my son's bought me tickets to the August 12 King Crimson show at the Keswick Theater and it was that night after seeing you that I knew I had to start playing again...I can not thank you enough, the show and your playing was inspiring....so I guess you never know who is watching your shows and what it means to some people. Well it was a wake up for me...

Glad to hear it. I'm very happy that you got some inspiration from my drumming.

Any advise on tuning?????

There has been a lot of discussion about this (you might want to search this thread) - but I can highly recommend the excellent advice that Bob Gatzen gives in his video clips on YouTube. I follow it closely.

Hi DTrocks

When will the remixed version of your performance be ready? And were can I watch it?

Early 2009 when it's released on DVD by Hudson Music.

cheers
Gavin

kheddar

10-04-2008, 09:43 AM

Hello Gavin,

Do you still spend time on improving the feel and groove of very rudimentary stuff? (8th note rock beats, single stroke rolls, whatever)

Wherever your playing is discussed, you get almost universal praise, and rightly so. However, I've seen one or two instances of someone accusing you of overplaying. Are there any sections in any recording you've performed on that you look back on and think "that part was unnecessarily complex"?

Also, what do you think of Benny Greb? He and you might be my two favorite drummers right now. :)

Cheers,
kheddar

hauk

10-04-2008, 10:41 AM

Hello again Gavin,

I was wondering, when you decide to play a song for a clinic, do you tend to play a little more, so to speak, since the focus is on you rather than on the song? Does the change of situation ever alter your approach so that you play involved or soloistic parts which you might consider "too much" in concert or on an album?

Also, I'm happy to say I'll be at PASIC this year! Other than your demonstration, will you be hanging around any other times to meet people, sign stuff, etc?

Thanks for all the inspiration.

Gavin Harrison

10-05-2008, 02:50 PM

Hi kheddar

Do you still spend time on improving the feel and groove of very rudimentary stuff? (8th note rock beats, single stroke rolls, whatever)

I certainly do - everything needs to feel as good as it can - whether that's playing paradiddles on a pad or an 8th note beat on a full set of drums.

Wherever your playing is discussed, you get almost universal praise, and rightly so. However, I've seen one or two instances of someone accusing you of overplaying. Are there any sections in any recording you've performed on that you look back on and think "that part was unnecessarily complex"?

The short answer is no. I knew exactly what I was doing - and at that time - I felt it was right. Sometimes in a live concert I play more than what I played on the record - but at the time (and in the context of the room, the audience feeling, the buzz, the adrenaline and spontaneous excitement) it felt right. If you wern't there that night and just heard some recording of it sometime later in the cold light of day - you might feel differently about it.

You can never please everyone. If you play a straight groove - someone will say you are boring and unimaginative - you might play something quite complex and creative - someone will say you overplayed. This is a form of art and personal preference - people's comments are of course subjective. I can only do what I think is right.

Also, what do you think of Benny Greb?

I know Benny and he's a great player.

Hi hauk

I was wondering, when you decide to play a song for a clinic, do you tend to play a little more, so to speak, since the focus is on you rather than on the song? Does the change of situation ever alter your approach so that you play involved or soloistic parts which you might consider "too much" in concert or on an album?

I try to play a balanced set of tunes at drum clinics. Obviously some tunes that feature the drums a bit more than usual. I certainly end up playing more notes than I would at a normal concert - because as you said - the focus is just on me. I don't really enjoy the pressure of the audience wanting me to show off - so I hardly ever play a solo. I realise that a majority of a drum clinic audience are beginners and amateurs who are more impressed with speed, flash and a very large drum set - than musicality and groove.

cheers
Gavin

cantstandyourfunk

10-05-2008, 03:02 PM

Hi there Gavin,
greetings from India again. I was almost going to post a query on rudiments, but that's just been answered. I'd love to know what keeps you inspired: because your playing, I'm sure, inspires thousands of people around the world.

Swiss Matthias

10-05-2008, 09:33 PM

I realise that a majority of a drum clinic audience are beginners and amateurs who are more impressed with speed, flash and a very large drum set - than musicality and groove.

That's interesting, how did you come to know that? Wow, I imagine I'd be totally unsure and probably in doubt if I could enjoy a clinic if I were to do one once...!
But I hope you (and other drummers who do clinics) try to play for the minority who want more than the above you listed:D!!

cantstandyourfunk

10-06-2008, 01:24 AM

^^
bah! there we go again...

Swiss Matthias

10-06-2008, 11:13 AM

I read the Vinnie Colaiuta interview (very interesting) and I agree with a lot of the things he said. A lot of young/beginner drummers come to clinics - obviously because they want to learn something - but they are the ones who are most impressed with technique - so you can feel pressurized to play something fast and flash because it gets a good reaction. But I try to make something musical out of my clinics and steer clear of "fireworks and tricks". Maybe that's why I don't get so many offers to do clinics?

To me, when I go see a clinic, it's mostly like a "private concert", where surprisingly few people gather, sometimes even for free, and watch a favourite artist of theirs perform, whilst sitting intimately near to the musician! That I love about clinics. And the questions. By the way, I clearly remember your clinic in Switzerland, at Musik Produktiv in Niederlenz, you answered so many questions with long stories, humor and many examples. It was so great you took so much time for all that people, shared so much insight, and last but not least made us laugh out loud quite some times:)!

Zildjian232

10-06-2008, 03:31 PM

Gavin,

I have more of a personal question for you, than a question regarding drumming and whatnot.

I'm very confused on whether to pursue a career in music.Subsequently, Ive even put off going to Berklee school of music. I'm running into some(possible) record contract/radio play/touring opportunities with this band I'm in, but I'm not going to count my chickens before the eggs hatch. College verses running off with a band??. Everyone i know has their career planned out already(military, pilots,union jobs,doctors,etc) , all i can say is "yeah i played at the house of blues in Hollywood last month, it was bad ass!" I have support around me, its just that you get that general attitude from people, like you told them that youre going to win the lottery and retire as your career plan. I have no other career aspirations besides music. I don't know if i should be worried or what.

I dont mean to sound like a drunk prattling school child, i have years worth of frustration, and trying to condense it was hard . You're leading a successful career in the same field im interested in, so i thought you might have some insight?

all the best,

mike.

gibeachhead

10-07-2008, 05:38 AM

Hey Gavin,

Just wanted to say good luck with the upcoming tour (starting tomorrow).

I heard that you guys are digging deep in the back catalog, well if so....and if you haven't finalized it yet. It would be great to see you guys play Always Never, your drumming on the remaster for that album really makes it an epic track.

Thanks for taking the time to read,

Brent

drumbumhamza

10-07-2008, 04:15 PM

Hello,
My current setup is a standard 5 piece Mapex Saturn (4 maple + 2 wallnut) the specs of which are
12x9
13x10
16x16
14x5.5
22x18

I want to add a couple of toms (1 rack, 1 floor) to this arrangement...what sizes would you suggest to get a similar range like yours (considering i have a 13 and you dont).

Also can you shed some light on Irrational Polyrhythms (an online link ?)

Cheers,
Hamza.

Swiss Matthias

10-07-2008, 07:19 PM

Cool, I got a Mapex Orion! 22x20, 14x5.5, 10x8, 12x9, 14x14 and 16x16.

hauk

10-08-2008, 08:06 AM

Sorry for the repeat, but I forgot one more question:
How long will your set be at PASIC?

Thanks again so much for all you do

Mr. Brownstone

10-08-2008, 07:51 PM

Seriously guys, private messages work great for that kind of stuff.

Gavin Harrison

10-09-2008, 08:33 PM

Hi cantstandyourfunk

I'd love to know what keeps you inspired: because your playing, I'm sure, inspires thousands of people around the world.

Many things keep me inspired - and not always the drums or other drummers. Life, in general - design and architecture I find very inspiring. Look at how many amazing designs there are of watches and clocks for instance - and there's new ones coming every day. Thinking about things away from music - can really help you look at the drums from new angles.

Hi Zildjian232

I'm very confused on whether to pursue a career in music.Subsequently, Ive even put off going to Berklee school of music. I'm running into some(possible) record contract/radio play/touring opportunities with this band I'm in, but I'm not going to count my chickens before the eggs hatch. College verses running off with a band??. Everyone i know has their career planned out already(military, pilots,union jobs,doctors,etc) , all i can say is "yeah i played at the house of blues in Hollywood last month, it was bad ass!" I have support around me, its just that you get that general attitude from people, like you told them that youre going to win the lottery and retire as your career plan. I have no other career aspirations besides music. I don't know if i should be worried or what.

Only you can make these decisions - all I can say is that it will not be easy to make a career in music - and you might not make much money - but it might be so much more rewarding in the fact that you would be doing what you love the most. Being really good is one thing - being lucky is another - and basically you need to be both. So work on the first - and hope that the second comes along at some point.

Hi drumbumhamza

My current setup is a standard 5 piece Mapex Saturn (4 maple + 2 wallnut) the specs of which are 12x9 13x10 16x16 14x5.5 22x18

I want to add a couple of toms (1 rack, 1 floor) to this arrangement...what sizes would you suggest to get a similar range like yours (considering i have a 13 and you dont).

Then I would suggest a 10x8 and maybe a 14x14

cheers
Gavin

Tom Sawyer

10-10-2008, 07:03 AM

Hey Gavin, thanks for the most awesome show last Tuesday in Almada. Definitely one of the best gigs I ever went to, it was incredible!
The venue was very small, do you guys play small places like that often? I think it really helps the atmosphere, but I expect it wouldn't make so much of a difference for you guys up there? I was the person in the "John&Paul&Ringo&George" shirt and the Colin Edwin type hat in the first row, right in front of you and Colin, in case you noticed, lol. I know, not likely.

Your kit sounded (and looked) stunning, that finish is very funky. I think I noticed you now mount your splashes upside down, is there any specific reason for that? Or just because it looks cool? Also, your ride has the K logo on the underside, how old is it?

Once again thanks for taking the time to read this, thank you for the wonderful and inspiring music. All the best and good luck for you and the rest of the guys!

Gus

10-11-2008, 02:52 PM

Was very nice to meet you after the Madrid concert, and thank you for sign my copy of Rhythmic Horizons. I´m very honored!!.
The concert was amazing, good sound, great ambient, PT's music is fascinating...My wife an I did enjoy to the limit...And your sound is killer!. One of the most discussed things here is, as you know, your snare sound... In records is great, but alive...From another world: Beautiful low tone with impressive crack, an impossible to define for me deep, and an unbeliveable buzz sound fron the snares...Take my applause Gavin!.

Your performance were simply one of the best i´ve ever seen -anesthesize shocked me!!-...And i´m lucky to have seen alive people like -no particular order- Tony Williams, Paul Motian, Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, Dennis Chambers, Marco Minnemann, Thomas Lang...

Take care, and please give my regards to the blonde woman who were selling shirts ans cds. She is very kind and nice!!!

Gus

Gavin Harrison

10-11-2008, 04:26 PM

Hi Tom Sawyer

Your kit sounded (and looked) stunning, that finish is very funky. I think I noticed you now mount your splashes upside down, is there any specific reason for that? Or just because it looks cool? Also, your ride has the K logo on the underside, how old is it?

They are not splashes - they are custom "crash bells" much thicker than splashes - and they're meant to be played upside down. The K ride is about 5 years old. Don't they all have a large "K" on the underside?

Hi Gus,
it was nice to meet you too. Thanks for coming to the show - I'm glad you enjoyed it.

cheers
Gavin

gibeachhead

10-11-2008, 08:03 PM

Don't they all have a large "K" on the underside?

cheers
Gavin

I got my 20" K ride about a year and a half ago and it has Zildjian written on the underside, and a K on top. It might have been a minor production change or something.

Brodel

10-14-2008, 02:46 AM

Hi Gavin,
From what I've been able to gather, it doesn't seem like the song Shallow is played much (if at all) during PT's live shows, despite being one of the more popular songs...This may be more of a SW question, but I was just wondering if there was any reasoning behind this..perhaps because of its simpler song structure compared to other PT songs or maybe for no reason at all!
Also, I'd like to know your thoughts on some of the drummers currently in rock..A few of my favs (besides you)....Danny Carey of Tool, Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater, Cater Beauford of Dave Matthews Band, Brann Dailor of Mastodon, Thomas Pridgen of The Mars Volta, etc....Are there any rock drummers that have recently caught your interest or whose playing you enjoy listening to?
Thanks so much!

gongbass

10-14-2008, 03:51 PM

ilikedrums

10-14-2008, 07:14 PM

In regard to Gavin's "Crash bells", I've been in touch with R & D at Zildjian and there is a good chance that they will introduce these at NAMM 2009. I would urge any interested to drop Zildjian a line (their email can be tough to find but its out there) and mention that you'd be interested if they did come to market.

I own over 100 Zildjian cymbals and have to say the only area I think they lack in is the small bell, cup chime department. Hopefully this will change with if they introduce the "Crash bells".

Hi gongbass ( the same one from Tama-Forum?),

i agree. I wrote some e-mails to Zildjian (last year), to introduce the missing sizes of a 6", 8" and 10" Oriental China Trash for "Stacks" or played as china. I think Gavins Crash Bells solve that lack a little bit. Such Effect-Cymbals are still missing at Zildjian.

gongbass

10-14-2008, 08:27 PM

hey ilikedrums, yep same gongbass as the tama forum.

I would urge all to contact zildjian that would be interested, not to annoy them, just to let them know that people would buy these if they were released. I loved the way these sounded at the recent Crimson shows I saw. If they do release them I hope they do more then the standard 2 sizes. Since unlike Sabian, Zildjian won't do custom sizes or custom orders, it would be great to have a variety.

As for a "stacked" type cymbal, let me turn you on to one of my recent creations. I took a 9" Oriental China Trash and put 4 rivets in it. I then took a 8" ZHT splash, lightly hammered the edges and placed it on top of the china trash. Clamped felts tight but not too tight and its a really original sounding effect. Hey if Zildjian won't do it doesn;t mean we cant!!! : )

Keeping my fingers crossed for the Crash Bells at Winter NAMM, would also love to see some Zildjian Cup Chimes but I think thats a stretch!

drumbumhamza

10-15-2008, 10:47 AM

Hey,
Thanks for the info on the specs :)

Oh and one more thing...will you be conducting any workshops and or would be able to give lessons or something on those lines in London between the 20th to 25th ?
Do let me know.

useless info : theres an exhibit at Edinbrough Zoo called Tree Porcupine :)

SantiBanks

10-16-2008, 02:37 PM

Hi Gavin!

Thanks so much for the great performance yesterday in 013! Looking forward to the second show tonight. I am really amazed by your drumming. At various places during the concert, I was thinking, what fill would Gavin come up with now?
Hope that the shoot for the dvd worked out well (except for the knocked mic standard in FOABP) and I'll see you tonight!

(btw, you guys have a nice engineer! Talked with him last night for a couple of minutes. Very nice guy!)

[edit below]
And thanks for a wonderful second night! Very nice in absentia oriented setlist. I made a picture of you last night (its one of the few that worked out "well"). Had a lot of trouble with getting the light balance right.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2949109632_7018214e1e.jpg

for who wants to see more of both nights -> http://www.flickr.com/photos/suppers_ready86/
Certainly not the best concert pictures I snapped but pretty acceptable and also the first time I snapped Porcupine Tree (as it wasn't allowed on the concerts before)

angelo

10-17-2008, 03:58 PM

Hi Gavin How are you?
Your "crash-bell" very fantastic in sound
I do not want to disturb or steal your time have you a close up photo of this?
this cymbal have a flat profile?
thanks a lot Gavin and excuse me for steal your time
Angelo

NUTHA JASON

10-20-2008, 11:17 PM

hi gavin

i've just got to say that have totally gotten into porcupine tree lately. i bought Stupid Dream, Lightbulb Sun ,In Absentia, Deadwing and Fear of a Blank Planet. Deadwing is the tastiest of the lot but i'm loving them all. the vocals and guitars and keys are so lush and rich it really is gorgeous and dark music with your intelligent but largely unpredictable drums making the whole sound really good. although i also like what chris did before as well particularly the song 'piano lessons'.
the drumming on anesthetize is vicious. anyway i'm a big fan now. i'm hoping for more.

ta
j

ItalianRicky

10-23-2008, 02:50 AM

Hi Gavin! ^_^

how're you?everything ok?
it's been a while from the last time that i write here...
but now i'm back!
with new questions! =P

This week i have stolen my mom's cd collection of Claudio Baglioni.
I was electrized when i read on the musician list your name!
I was stunned when i listen..(and i have always rejected claudio baglioni...and now i started listening his record...all your fault! :D )
Especially i was emotioned when i listen some live, like "Assieme", "ancora assieme", "A-Live".

Some interpretations are simply amazing, examples are VIVI, ADESSO LA PUBBLICITA', VIA (amazing tom solo!!) and overall i was seduced by your groove in "MILLE GIORNI DI TE E DI ME" and "UN NUOVO GIORNO O UN GIORNO NUOVO".

i have 3 questions for you...
the first, is about your drumset of that times .Do you remember or have some photos of that setup???
second question, i dunno if you have those cd that i've talked on this post, but in the song VIVI at 2':53" you make an amazing fill.if you hear it can you give me the transcription about this magic fill????PLEASE! ^^
last question...on the last studio recordings of claudio baglioni, are you on the drums?

I link you this old video with claudio that present you!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZndLbpnR4U
^_^

thanks a lot and sorry for the time that i stole you and for my horrible english :(
cheers

Riccardo

Slike...

10-23-2008, 09:41 PM

You're amazing maaaan! I'm out of words.
You're like...like...uh...like a cross between Bruce Lee, a cybermachine, Zorg from the center of the galaxy, and a visionary triple P.H.D underground scientist.
Keep up the good work/play, pal.
You're an example to many around the world I'm sure, by your music, but above all by your choices in life.
May all the good things in this world happen to you my friend. You deserve it.

dr.funkenstien

10-24-2008, 04:00 AM

Hey Gav,
First off, how are you? I would just simply like to ask your advice on how to play drums professionally for a lifetime. I'm 17 years old and I have been really tapping into and enjoying studio drumming and doing sessions for people. I recently did a session with Tony Levin on bass and it felt amazing to be a part of something with him. I've been playing for about 9 years now. Another I drummer I talked to in person about this was J.D. Blair and he really gave me some awsome advice. so any advice?

Thanks, and Take Care
Brendan Colameco

Gavin Harrison

10-24-2008, 12:33 PM

Hi Brodel

From what I've been able to gather, it doesn't seem like the song Shallow is played much (if at all) during PT's live shows, despite being one of the more popular songs...This may be more of a SW question, but I was just wondering if there was any reasoning behind this..perhaps because of its simpler song structure compared to other PT songs or maybe for no reason at all!

Actually we felt it wasn't very popular at all. So we stopped playing it about 3 years ago.

Hi angelo

Your "crash-bell" very fantastic in sound I do not want to disturb or steal your time have you a close up photo of this? this cymbal have a flat profile?

I don't have any photos of them - but I can say that they do have quite a flat profile.

Hi ItalianRicky,

i have 3 questions for you...
the first, is about your drumset of that times .Do you remember or have some photos of that setup???

That was 1992 when I was playing Pearl drums. Same configuration as I play now. 22-8-10-2-14-16

second question, i dunno if you have those cd that i've talked on this post, but in the song VIVI at 2':53" you make an amazing fill.if you hear it can you give me the transcription about this magic fill????PLEASE! ^^

I don't remember that fill - but if you post a small audio sample of it maybe a transcriber (like Terry Branam) could transcribe it for you.

last question...on the last studio recordings of claudio baglioni, are you on the drums?

The last two studio recordings I made for Claudio were "Sono Io" from 2003 and then "Quellide Glialtri Tutti Qui" in 2006

Hi dr.funkenstien

I would just simply like to ask your advice on how to play drums professionally for a lifetime.

Be conscientious, open minded and versatile.

cheers
Gavin

ItalianRicky

10-24-2008, 05:52 PM

i've attached to thid post the fill section of the song.can you help me?
thanks a lot master gavin ^^

drummer girl09

10-25-2008, 07:10 AM

Hey Gavin,

I don't have any questions for you right now but I just wanted to say that you have inspired me to a whole differant level...if that makes sense. Ever since I saw you on the Vic Firth podcast (which is freakin cool), I've loved all of your stuff that you have done. All of the creative videos on youtube were awesome. I am hopefully going to buy one of your Porcupine Tree cds. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate you as a drummer, and to keep up the awesome work. =]

Terry Branam

10-25-2008, 07:50 AM

i've attached to thid post the fill section of the song.can you help me?
thanks a lot master gavin ^^

Hi ItalianRicky,

I will be able to transcribe that fill for you when I get back into town in a few days. Hang in there.

Terry

ItalianRicky

10-25-2008, 11:54 AM

thanks a lot Terry!
if you come in Italy i'll take you to eat something good with a good Italian wine ;)

cheers
Riccardo

FearOfaPlanetWithoutGavin

10-25-2008, 02:33 PM

Just stop by to say hello... I remember October 6th 2007 like it was yesterday... Porcupine Tree in Mexico City... I couldn´t believe it, I guess after a while you think about the greatest moments of your life and you realize that this is it, this is the one I would never change. Well anyway, I hope to see Porcupine Tree again soon, so good luck, best wishes and kindest regards Gavin.

Gus

10-25-2008, 11:02 PM

Hi Gavin

Will be available for download at PT´s site, any concert from 'blank planet' tour? -like 'Rockpalast','XM'...-

Thanks in advance and take care

Gus

voyaging

10-26-2008, 02:17 AM

Hi Gavin,

I'm very interested in working through your book Rhythmic Illusions. I've been playing drums for roughly three years, but have never really done any serious practicing as far as technique or coordination. I was wondering if I should work on such things as rudiments or out of, for example, Vinnie Colaiuta's Unreel Drum Book, or if you think I can and should begin your book. Thanks, and it's an honor to talk to you!

Dylan

communion

10-27-2008, 06:11 PM

Terry Branam

10-28-2008, 06:24 AM

Hey everybody,

I wanted to post this fill that ItalianRicky requested from the song "Vivi". Enjoy!

SantiBanks

10-28-2008, 01:03 PM

Hi Gavin,
I have been trying to record the drums since the last time I asked about the mics thing.
There are 2 clips I recorded yesterday,it's glad if you could have a listen and give some comments on the sound.because Im not a drummer,I don't know if it sounds good to a real drummer's ears.
There were 4 mics to be used.kick,snare top,floor tom and one overhead.I tried to mix it to the best sounding as I can get.
by the way,I ordered a new pair of OH mics,they are coming soon.so I can try stereo OH this week later!

If I may be so free to post some remarks about this:

Have you used artificial reverb (in other words, not a natural reverb that comes from the room, like Gavin creates in his drumroom)? I hear a very long reverb in the back (which makes it a bit strange).

I think that the balance of the stereo imaging is more on the left side. Is the ride on the left side or on the right side? If it is on the right, then I would place it on the right during mixdown.

I would suggest:
Toms: panned over the stereo field. Highest pitch left, lowest pitch right. Equally panned.
Snare: somewhere in the middle, maybe slightly off center to the right.
Hihat: somewhere more to the left
Ride: depending on actual placement. In case of a normal setup, on the right
Crashes: depending on actual placement.
Kick: in the center
The above is of course a pretty standard placement, from a right handed drummers perspective. Its not a guideline, feel free to experiment but I think there is much more going on in the left side of the stereo image then on the right side which makes it feel a bit out of balance.

The drumsounds itself (the individual sounds) sound pretty good!
Of course, the sound of recorded drums all depends on context. Listen close to gavin's drums. They never sound the same on any track. It just depends on what other stuff is playing at that time (drums can be eq'ed more to fit better in the mix), the kind of character that is needed for the song (let's sleep forever has a lot of ambient room while fear of a blank planet sounds pretty dry and straightforward) and the kind of drums used (dark snares, light snares, metallic snares etc.)

ItalianRicky

10-29-2008, 03:06 AM

Hey everybody,

I wanted to post this fill that ItalianRicky requested from the song "Vivi". Enjoy!

this man dominates!!!^^

thanks a lot to Terry for his great work, and to gavin for have invented (and forget =P ) this amazing fill!everytime i listen to it i feel the need to play drums!

i hope that other persons enjoy this!

communion

10-29-2008, 09:28 PM

If I may be so free to post some remarks about this:

Have you used artificial reverb (in other words, not a natural reverb that comes from the room, like Gavin creates in his drumroom)? I hear a very long reverb in the back (which makes it a bit strange).

I think that the balance of the stereo imaging is more on the left side. Is the ride on the left side or on the right side? If it is on the right, then I would place it on the right during mixdown.

I would suggest:
Toms: panned over the stereo field. Highest pitch left, lowest pitch right. Equally panned.
Snare: somewhere in the middle, maybe slightly off center to the right.
Hihat: somewhere more to the left
Ride: depending on actual placement. In case of a normal setup, on the right
Crashes: depending on actual placement.
Kick: in the center
The above is of course a pretty standard placement, from a right handed drummers perspective. Its not a guideline, feel free to experiment but I think there is much more going on in the left side of the stereo image then on the right side which makes it feel a bit out of balance.

The drumsounds itself (the individual sounds) sound pretty good!
Of course, the sound of recorded drums all depends on context. Listen close to gavin's drums. They never sound the same on any track. It just depends on what other stuff is playing at that time (drums can be eq'ed more to fit better in the mix), the kind of character that is needed for the song (let's sleep forever has a lot of ambient room while fear of a blank planet sounds pretty dry and straightforward) and the kind of drums used (dark snares, light snares, metallic snares etc.)

hi,SantiBanks
thanks for you comment!
what exactly is the artificial reverb?I added reverb plugin in the mix,maybe it's overkill.but is it already too much if the music needs much air and dreamy sounding?

yes,about the imaging,it sounds abit odd to a natural drumkits because I got only 4 mics to record the drum at the moment.i did it mono overhead and if i pan it center in the mix,sounds not balance with the floor tom i recorded.so i tried to pan the mono OH to left and Floor Tom to right.Kick in center and Snare abit off to left.

thanks for your words! I did compression and eq'ed alot to clear each tracks together.the original sound is not like that.I will try again next week after I get the pair of Overhead mics,it's Joesphson C42MP.anyone got experience about this mic?

SantiBanks

10-30-2008, 03:28 PM

hi,SantiBanks
thanks for you comment!
what exactly is the artificial reverb?I added reverb plugin in the mix,maybe it's overkill.but is it already too much if the music needs much air and dreamy sounding?

With artificial reverb, I mean added reverb that is not present at the real recording and does not simulate the setting of the recording space (in other words, reverbs that are not common for recordingrooms like a bathroom reverb, a grand canyon reverb etc.)

I think the drums sound a bit odd with the wrong type of reverb. A room reverb would suite the drumsound much more as it emulates the room the drumkit was recorded in.

yes,about the imaging,it sounds abit odd to a natural drumkits because I got only 4 mics to record the drum at the moment.i did it mono overhead and if i pan it center in the mix,sounds not balance with the floor tom i recorded.so i tried to pan the mono OH to left and Floor Tom to right.Kick in center and Snare abit off to left.

In that case, the "problem" is more the usage of 4 mics. Its ok to record drums with 4 mics (in fact you can do it with 2 or 3) but placement is very important. If you have 4 mics then I would suggest using 2 overhead mics positioned in such a way that the full drumkit is covered and that you can use that as the base for panning and making your stereo image.
Then you can use an additional mic for the snare and one for the kick (which might need processing, depending on what you want)

thanks for your words!
You're welcome!

I did compression and eq'ed alot to clear each tracks together.the original sound is not like that.I will try again next week after I get the pair of Overhead mics,it's Joesphson C42MP.anyone got experience about this mic?I don't know the mic so I don't have "experience with it". If you use a lot of EQ then you might want to change your mic placement.