Gavin Harrison here!

[drumstu]

Hi Gavin,
Two questions:
Do you have advise for playing the attached backbeat by hitting the second ghost note evenly (left hand) without making it sound like two accented notes? You do it so effortlessly and I've been trying to work on this for a while. I realize practicing over and over is probably the key but wanted to see what you are thinking or feeling when you play it.

Also, will Terry Branam be transcribing any "Pineapple Thief" songs in the future? I always liked his work that he did with you.
Thank you,
Stuart

 

[Gavin Harrison]

Do you have advise for playing the attached backbeat by hitting the second ghost note evenly (left hand) without making it sound like two accented notes?

I guess it's something I have been doing for so long I stopped thinking about it. However - depending how hard you hit that first snare accent (and I do tend to rimshot 99% of my snare accents) the second note is almost inaudible. If you do rimshot the accent and tap the following ghost note - the volume difference should be pretty extreme.

Also, will Terry Branam be transcribing any "Pineapple Thief" songs in the future? I always liked his work that he did with you.

It is a plan we have been thinking about. Stay tuned !

cheers
Gavin

 

[Lunasee]

My teacher suggested that when I play a ghost note after a full hit, to loosen the grip and let the stick sort of drop. It worked for me. I hope it helps.

 

[drumstu]

I guess it's something I have been doing for so long I stopped thinking about it. However - depending how hard you hit that first snare accent (and I do tend to rimshot 99% of my snare accents) the second note is almost inaudible. If you do rimshot the accent and tap the following ghost note - the volume difference should be pretty extreme.

It is a plan we have been thinking about. Stay tuned !

cheers
Gavin

Thank you Gavin!!!

 

[drumstu]

My teacher suggested that when I play a ghost note after a full hit, to loosen the grip and let the stick sort of drop. It worked for me. I hope it helps.

Thank you Lunasee! That's exactly how I do it but the rebound seems to be just high enough to not be even (or consistent) with the rest of my ghost notes. I'm just going to make it a repetition "thing" and keep working on it. Thanks again.......

 

[MARINE SGT DRUMMER]

His Protean Snare is pretty cool, I really like it. And Gavin is alright too. LOL
His timing is awesome, articulate.

 

[12:7]

Hey Mr. Gavin,

do you know the record Yellow Moon by The Neville Brothers?

I think you might enjoy it

 

[GalenMusic]

Gavin, do you have a particular approach to dominant/ non-dominant leading hand? I've seen you switch to playing grooves or fills leading with the left hand so you can orchestrate your right hand more freely, but as far as rolls, etc, do you err more toward phrases like left-leading up the kit, or arranging so that it's more comfortable with the right leading? (ie: adding foot rolls to cover the transition). I feel like I've passed the bell curve on trying to become ambidextrous, and now trying to lead with my weaker hand on stage/ while recording is sabotaging me more than it's helping me

 

[Gavin Harrison]

do you know the record Yellow Moon by The Neville Brothers?

I do now. Thanks.

do you have a particular approach to dominant/ non-dominant leading hand? I've seen you switch to playing grooves or fills leading with the left hand so you can orchestrate your right hand more freely, but as far as rolls, etc, do you err more toward phrases like left-leading up the kit, or arranging so that it's more comfortable with the right leading? (ie: adding foot rolls to cover the transition).

I don't really have a particular approach. If I'm riding with my left (on the hi hats or left side China cymbal) I might hit the downbeats on the crash (in front of me) with my left. When I play fills up the toms I still lead with my right hand - and therefore start with the hands split between two floor toms so they don't fall over each other (if you see what I mean). In fact I tend to keep my hands split between toms even if I make an ascending fill. I just prefer the sound of that.

cheers
Gavin

 

[SalvadorDDVS]

Hello Gavin, hope you’re well! Few things to ask :

1) When you do a flam where both sticks hit the snare, is the softer hit of the flam still a rimshot like the louder stick? The example in my head would be “Blackest Eyes” where you flam solely on the snare a few times both in the intro and outro.

2) While watching the C/C Live Blu-ray, on “Chimera’s Wreck” I was wondering which model of brushes you were using.

3) I noticed in several of your Vic Firth YouTube performances of The Pineapple Thief tracks, that it seems like sometimes your usual bass drum strokes appear to be followed by soft hits such as about 18 seconds in to this “Rubicon” video. Are you doing that as a nod to feathering the bass drum like in your jazz gigs in the past or is that happening due to pedal settings?

As always, thank you for your time! Also seen you twice with Porcupine Tree and twice with The Pineapple Thief and will see you again in NYC November!

- Salvador

 

[Gavin Harrison]

1) When you do a flam where both sticks hit the snare, is the softer hit of the flam still a rimshot like the louder stick? The example in my head would be “Blackest Eyes” where you flam solely on the snare a few times both in the intro and outro.

Yes, in the case of 'power flams' (like the intro of Blackest Eyes) both strokes would be rimshots.

2) While watching the C/C Live Blu-ray, on “Chimera’s Wreck” I was wondering which model of brushes you were using.

They are the Vic Firth Rute 505 model

3) I noticed in several of your Vic Firth YouTube performances of The Pineapple Thief tracks, that it seems like sometimes your usual bass drum strokes appear to be followed by soft hits such as about 18 seconds in to this “Rubicon” video. Are you doing that as a nod to feathering the bass drum like in your jazz gigs in the past or is that happening due to pedal settings?

Well spotted. No, they are just accidental notes of my foot resting the beater - but of course inaudible in a really loud song like this.

cheers
Gavin

 

[SalvadorDDVS]

All makes sense, thanks! Did you find those accidental notes occurred when using Axis or other pedals too or is that specific to the Speed Cobras?

- Salvador

 

[Gavin Harrison]

Did you find those accidental notes occurred when using Axis or other pedals too or is that specific to the Speed Cobras?

Yes exactly the same. When I'm not concentrating 100% on the right foot - these 'resting on the head moments' can occur. As I siad - you can't actually hear them in the mix. It's not the pedals - it's me !!

cheers
Gavin

 

[spelman]

Gavin, are there any recordings of this full kit, with 8" , 10" and 12" snare drums off to the side? ( I know you used the small snares on the Drum song ). I remember the kit was auctioned off, but do you still own those snare drums?


Also, I recently heard the bonus track, "Iron Horse" from your excellent solo album. Was the kit on that track the one in the pic below, more or less? Any additions?



Thank you!

 

[Drummerrobin]

Hi Gavin,

Big thanks again for answering our questions on here and for the general inspiration! You've talked in the past about how you use the big room in your house as a reverb unit to capture the natural ambience of the drums setup in the smaller room. Have you ever done recordings with the drums actually set up in the big room? Or did you find the sound in that room was too unwieldy for it to be put to that kind of use?

All the best,
Robin

 

[EneaSergi]

Hi Gavin!

I hope you are fine!

I have a question to ask. I've noticed that the look of your studio has changed a lot. I would like to know what changes you made. A studio tour would be very interesting!

I wish you a good day and goodbye!

Enea Sergi

 

[Gavin Harrison]

Gavin, are there any recordings of this full kit, with 8" , 10" and 12" snare drums off to the side? ( I know you used the small snares on the Drum song ). I remember the kit was auctioned off, but do you still own those snare drums?

I don't think I ever recorded the drumset with the 3 side snares. Although the drums were auctioned off for the MS charity I do still have the 3 small snares.

Also, I recently heard the bonus track, "Iron Horse" from your excellent solo album. Was the kit on that track the one in the pic below, more or less? Any additions?

this was the exact kit that I used on that album (including the tune Iron Horse). Quite an experimental set up. 16" bass drum, a darabuka left of the hi hat and a 10" and 12" tom (that were just tunable heads on RIMS mounts with no drumshell - I can't remember what they were called).

cheers
Gavin

 

[Till Sommer]

Hey Gavin, I have a question regarding your Overheads. I know that you set them up as somewhat of an ORTF setting, behind your ears and basically having the mics hear what you hear. I tried it and really liked how detailed the stereo image was compared to my A/B setup. I could clearly hear where all my cymbals were sitting in the stereo field and I find that very intriguing. I was wondering if you use your AKG C12's mostly in the cardioid setting to get most of your OH sounds or if you switch the polar patterns regularly and always make it song dependent? Because I only have a pair of pencil cardioids (not switchable). And do you see any downsides of your setting compared to the more widely used A/B setting ? I am a self recording session drummer (slowly starting to get some work) and I really want to deliver the best sound possible in my room. I somewhat play the same styles as you do (with a similar drum setup), hence my interest in you recording ways. I want to see which of your techniques work for me and which need to be changed for my situation.
Any insight would make me extremely happy.

Best regards from Hannover, Germany
Till

 

[GalenMusic]

A question relating to playing injuries - I notice after playing in the last couple of months that my right thumb joint (bone? not sure) tends to get a great deal of physical stress, but I never get any blisters even after long sessions or extreme gigs, so I took that to mean that my grip is relatively light. I play pretty hard but not excessively so I assume my right thumb is somehow now the thing that absorbs all of that. Have you ever had any similar issues while playing? If so, how did you resolve?

 

[Gavin Harrison]

You've talked in the past about how you use the big room in your house as a reverb unit to capture the natural ambience of the drums setup in the smaller room. Have you ever done recordings with the drums actually set up in the big room? Or did you find the sound in that room was too unwieldy for it to be put to that kind of use?

I have made recordings in that big room and they sounded good - but I prefer the control I have of playing in a dry room. Plus it's actually harder to play in a really ambient space.

I've noticed that the look of your studio has changed a lot. I would like to know what changes you made. A studio tour would be very interesting!

I had the walls 'dry lined' - so there is a lot of rock-wool behind the plasterboard now - and there is an under-floor heating system. It was neccasary because of the heating (more than the extra sound isolation) - although I guess that helps reduce the noise that escapes outside the building.

I was wondering if you use your AKG C12's mostly in the cardioid setting to get most of your OH sounds or if you switch the polar patterns regularly and always make it song dependent?

I tried every polar pattern setting on the AKG C12s and the one I liked is almost totally cardioid. I never change the setting for different situations or songs.

And do you see any downsides of your setting compared to the more widely used A/B setting ?

Not that I have encountered, I just follow whatever sounds best to my ears. I never really liked the traditional positioning of overheads.

I play pretty hard but not excessively so I assume my right thumb is somehow now the thing that absorbs all of that. Have you ever had any similar issues while playing? If so, how did you resolve?

I can't say I've had that particular problem. Do you play with your thumb on top of the stick (like French grip) ?

I have had 'tennis-elbow' problems - and there have been times where I have had blisters until I have developed calluses. There have been some painful times on stage !

cheers
Gavin