Gavin Harrison
DRUMMERWORLD PRO DRUMMER
Hi TheWolfGuy
Thoroughly enjoyed the Nothing But the Truth show - great all around production! During the show I noticed a tablet next to your hi hat. Can you elaborate on its use during the show? General monitoring of the kit? The band (IEM)? Recording? Software utilized?
Glad you enjoyed the show. I have an iPad running "Universal Control" by Presonus which controls the monitoring system via WiFi.
Hi MattH10
Really enjoyed the Nothing But The Truth Show! What hi hats did you use?
they are Zildjian K Custom 14" Session Hi Hats.
cheers
Gavin
Thoroughly enjoyed the Nothing But the Truth show - great all around production! During the show I noticed a tablet next to your hi hat. Can you elaborate on its use during the show? General monitoring of the kit? The band (IEM)? Recording? Software utilized?
Glad you enjoyed the show. I have an iPad running "Universal Control" by Presonus which controls the monitoring system via WiFi.
Hi MattH10
Really enjoyed the Nothing But The Truth Show! What hi hats did you use?
they are Zildjian K Custom 14" Session Hi Hats.
cheers
Gavin
Doraemon
Well-known Member
Hi Gavin,
I can't stop watching Nothing But The Truth! Amazing performance and sound, as always. I loved the camera angle from above the drums. Are there any plans to release this on Blu-ray? I'd love to listen to the show again in 5.1 if possible, that would make it feel even more live.
At the end of Our Mire you used a drumstick vertically and upside down, do you sometimes do that and for what reason? Never noticed before.
Cheers,
Dora
I can't stop watching Nothing But The Truth! Amazing performance and sound, as always. I loved the camera angle from above the drums. Are there any plans to release this on Blu-ray? I'd love to listen to the show again in 5.1 if possible, that would make it feel even more live.
At the end of Our Mire you used a drumstick vertically and upside down, do you sometimes do that and for what reason? Never noticed before.
Cheers,
Dora
cygnify
Junior Member
I too really loved the "Nothing but the Truth" show (and I also hope for a future bluray release! 
) The mix was incredibly clear and the band was really excellent; and the drum kit sounded fantastic! A couple of a questions occurred to me:
* I noticed you had a Zildjian A crash just to the left of your ride; I had seen you use a K crash in that position before. I'm curious what thought you had given to your cymbal selection for this show; what types of things might influence your choices of cymbals for a specific gig?
* The footage of "In Exile" really highlighted your technique on the snare of tapping your fingers while playing a side-stick. I have tried this and cannot get the response out of my snare - I seem to mute the head too much with my hand resting on stick I'm playing side-stick with. Is it that your snare is just that much more responsive or are you somehow keeping your hand off the snare head while tapping your fingers?
* the small inverted bell directly in front of you; is that still a prototype? Is development moving forward?
thank you!
) The mix was incredibly clear and the band was really excellent; and the drum kit sounded fantastic! A couple of a questions occurred to me:* I noticed you had a Zildjian A crash just to the left of your ride; I had seen you use a K crash in that position before. I'm curious what thought you had given to your cymbal selection for this show; what types of things might influence your choices of cymbals for a specific gig?
* The footage of "In Exile" really highlighted your technique on the snare of tapping your fingers while playing a side-stick. I have tried this and cannot get the response out of my snare - I seem to mute the head too much with my hand resting on stick I'm playing side-stick with. Is it that your snare is just that much more responsive or are you somehow keeping your hand off the snare head while tapping your fingers?
* the small inverted bell directly in front of you; is that still a prototype? Is development moving forward?
thank you!
Gavin Harrison
DRUMMERWORLD PRO DRUMMER
Hi Doraemon
At the end of Our Mire you used a drumstick vertically and upside down, do you sometimes do that and for what reason? Never noticed before.
I think you mean this right? If you tap the cymbal right on the edge (at about 90 degrees to the edge of the cymbal) with a stick it will make a pleasing "ping" sound.
cheers
Gavin
At the end of Our Mire you used a drumstick vertically and upside down, do you sometimes do that and for what reason? Never noticed before.
I think you mean this right? If you tap the cymbal right on the edge (at about 90 degrees to the edge of the cymbal) with a stick it will make a pleasing "ping" sound.
cheers
Gavin
Gavin Harrison
DRUMMERWORLD PRO DRUMMER
Hi cygnify
* I noticed you had a Zildjian A crash just to the left of your ride; I had seen you use a K crash in that position before. I'm curious what thought you had given to your cymbal selection for this show; what types of things might influence your choices of cymbals for a specific gig?
That is a 17" Zildjian Medium Thin Crash - the reason I like playing it is that it has the larger bell - same as the 18" and above - so it has a bigger crash cymbal sound (without a really big diameter). I think it the smallest crash in the range - with that large bell.
* The footage of "In Exile" really highlighted your technique on the snare of tapping your fingers while playing a side-stick. I have tried this and cannot get the response out of my snare - I seem to mute the head too much with my hand resting on stick I'm playing side-stick with. Is it that your snare is just that much more responsive or are you somehow keeping your hand off the snare head while tapping your fingers?
No I'm not lifting my hand off the snare head as far as I'm aware - but I do hit the drum as hard as I can with my end of my fingers.
* the small inverted bell directly in front of you; is that still a prototype? Is development moving forward?
Just a prototype at the moment. I don't know of any plans to release it.
cheers
Gavin
* I noticed you had a Zildjian A crash just to the left of your ride; I had seen you use a K crash in that position before. I'm curious what thought you had given to your cymbal selection for this show; what types of things might influence your choices of cymbals for a specific gig?
That is a 17" Zildjian Medium Thin Crash - the reason I like playing it is that it has the larger bell - same as the 18" and above - so it has a bigger crash cymbal sound (without a really big diameter). I think it the smallest crash in the range - with that large bell.
* The footage of "In Exile" really highlighted your technique on the snare of tapping your fingers while playing a side-stick. I have tried this and cannot get the response out of my snare - I seem to mute the head too much with my hand resting on stick I'm playing side-stick with. Is it that your snare is just that much more responsive or are you somehow keeping your hand off the snare head while tapping your fingers?
No I'm not lifting my hand off the snare head as far as I'm aware - but I do hit the drum as hard as I can with my end of my fingers.
* the small inverted bell directly in front of you; is that still a prototype? Is development moving forward?
Just a prototype at the moment. I don't know of any plans to release it.
cheers
Gavin
Doraemon
Well-known Member
Yes, that's it! It looked really cool.
Drummerrobin
Member
Hi Gavin,
I sincerely hope Zildjian does make some of those crash bells at some point - the 11" one in the K Sweet performance of Break It All really does sound extraordinary! It seems to have a downward pitch bend that I've never heard from any cymbal before, almost like it's being lowered into water. Does it actually sound like that or is the pitch bend a result of the mixing?
And are the crash bells essentially like the cut-out cymbal bells you have but cut down less far? I have a couple of old crash cymbals that I'm planning on sending to Cymbal Magic (modification and repair company) and I'd love to see if something resembling crash bells could be made. It's such a musical sound, I feel they'd sell like hotcakes if Zildjian made them!
Thanks for your time here as always!
All the best,
Robin
Warrenoids
Member
Hello Gavin!
Would you ever consider playing 19 Days again?
Thanks!
Would you ever consider playing 19 Days again?
Thanks!
Gavin Harrison
DRUMMERWORLD PRO DRUMMER
Hi Robin
I sincerely hope Zildjian does make some of those crash bells at some point - the 11" one in the K Sweet performance of Break It All really does sound extraordinary! It seems to have a downward pitch bend that I've never heard from any cymbal before, almost like it's being lowered into water. Does it actually sound like that or is the pitch bend a result of the mixing?
Actually I made a mistake with that piece of information - it's not 11" it is 9.25" - and yes it does seem to have a bit of pitch bend in it. Nothing to do with mixing.
And are the crash bells essentially like the cut-out cymbal bells you have but cut down less far? I have a couple of old crash cymbals that I'm planning on sending to Cymbal Magic (modification and repair company) and I'd love to see if something resembling crash bells could be made. It's such a musical sound, I feel they'd sell like hotcakes if Zildjian made them!
Yes I love the sound of them. I have cut a few myself from broken crash cymbals - it's a really tough process - so better to get a company to do it. I have quite a few that Zildjian have made for me - mostly 9.25" and 7.5".
Hi Warrenoids
Would you ever consider playing 19 Days again?
Yes if I needed to. It was a piece that I played many times at drum clinics/drum festivals and I always enjoyed performing it.
cheers
Gavin
I sincerely hope Zildjian does make some of those crash bells at some point - the 11" one in the K Sweet performance of Break It All really does sound extraordinary! It seems to have a downward pitch bend that I've never heard from any cymbal before, almost like it's being lowered into water. Does it actually sound like that or is the pitch bend a result of the mixing?
Actually I made a mistake with that piece of information - it's not 11" it is 9.25" - and yes it does seem to have a bit of pitch bend in it. Nothing to do with mixing.
And are the crash bells essentially like the cut-out cymbal bells you have but cut down less far? I have a couple of old crash cymbals that I'm planning on sending to Cymbal Magic (modification and repair company) and I'd love to see if something resembling crash bells could be made. It's such a musical sound, I feel they'd sell like hotcakes if Zildjian made them!
Yes I love the sound of them. I have cut a few myself from broken crash cymbals - it's a really tough process - so better to get a company to do it. I have quite a few that Zildjian have made for me - mostly 9.25" and 7.5".
Hi Warrenoids
Would you ever consider playing 19 Days again?
Yes if I needed to. It was a piece that I played many times at drum clinics/drum festivals and I always enjoyed performing it.
cheers
Gavin
Liam
Active Member
Hi Gavin,
In your Threatening War video on Vic Firth's youtube channel, three out of four of your crashes look like Oriental Crashes of Doom, if so what sizes are they and will Zildjan ever release them. Secondly, who was the other drummer when you were playing with Claudio Baglioni.
Thanks,
Liam
In your Threatening War video on Vic Firth's youtube channel, three out of four of your crashes look like Oriental Crashes of Doom, if so what sizes are they and will Zildjan ever release them. Secondly, who was the other drummer when you were playing with Claudio Baglioni.
Thanks,
Liam
Last edited:
Gavin Harrison
DRUMMERWORLD PRO DRUMMER
HI Liam
In your Threatening War video on Vic Firth's youtube channel, three out of four of your crashes look like Oriental Crashes of Doom, if so what sizes are they and will Zildjan ever release them. Secondly, who was the other drummer when you were playing with Claudio Baglioni.
Two of them are the 20" versions and the other is an 18" - that they made for me. The other drummer I worked with during the 1996/2000 Claudio Baglioni tours was the excellent Elio Rivagli
cheers
Gavin
In your Threatening War video on Vic Firth's youtube channel, three out of four of your crashes look like Oriental Crashes of Doom, if so what sizes are they and will Zildjan ever release them. Secondly, who was the other drummer when you were playing with Claudio Baglioni.
Two of them are the 20" versions and the other is an 18" - that they made for me. The other drummer I worked with during the 1996/2000 Claudio Baglioni tours was the excellent Elio Rivagli
cheers
Gavin
TheWolfGuy
New Member
It's well known that the sound of your drums recorded and live are always pristine - the gold standard. On the flip side we all know the raw sound of acoustic drums sound nothing like they do when mic'd up. That said, would it be possible to hear the raw, un-mic'd sound of your kit? This is more for my curiosity of what you naturally hear (sans IEMs) versus what the listeners eventually hear. It could also be educational to help new drummers, struggling to get a sound like yours, understand that their acoustic drums un- mic'd really sound no different than yours (ok, maybe you tune yours better than a newbie - lol). Thanks for your consideration.
Gavin Harrison
DRUMMERWORLD PRO DRUMMER
Hi TheWolfGuy
It's well known that the sound of your drums recorded and live are always pristine - the gold standard. On the flip side we all know the raw sound of acoustic drums sound nothing like they do when mic'd up. That said, would it be possible to hear the raw, un-mic'd sound of your kit?
The only way you could ever understand what the drums sound like 'un-mic'd' would be if you were in the same room as them. Anything I could record (suposedly un-mic'd) would have to go through some kind of mic - whether it's in the camera or the phone or whatever. So that would be 'coloured' and unrepresentative as well - and most likely distort or compress because of the volume. It would just be is a bad sounding version of my drums - but still you would not understand what they really sounded like acoustically.
Hi Old PIT Guy
I recall you saying in interviews that you don't consider yourself a 'double-bass drum' player, but you've obviously put some quality time into this area of kit drumming. I've been working in fits and starts with your herta groove; a combination of repeating hertas on the bass drums with a common 6/8 afro-cuban motif on top, and one where you shift the start of the motif so the backbeats don't clash with the herta pattern.
Yes compared to guys who really specialize in 'double bass drum' I am really nowhere. If I had really wanted to follow some serious stuff on the double pedal I should have practised a few thousand hours on them - but I don't hear myself playing a lot of double bass drum in the musical situations that I find myself in. I can tell you that herta rhythm took me quite some time to get it clean and even sounding.
And so I'm wondering if you can offer any technical insight into what your process was for working up what presents as an effortless herta stream with the bass drums, and perhaps what your approach is to footwork in general; such as your thoughts on foot fulcrums in relation to the foot board, heel height, preferred technique for quick doubles (single pedal), stamina and conditioning of the feet for double kicks, etc etc.
I can only tell you what works for me - and some of that is to do with me being 6'2". I sit low - lower than most drummers I've come across. Is that good? Probably not for double bass drum - but it's where I feel comfortable. I really don't feel good sitting up high. Also I sit WAY back from the drums - I mean to the point where I can just bring my knees together in front of my snare drum whilst keeping my feet on the pedals in their playing position. That is because I play the pedal about half way down the pedal board. That is where the 'sweet spot' is for me. I move my leg and foot much less than if they were up the front of the board. I always play heel up - and I always play single stroke patterns - 99% of the time starting with the right foot. I don't ever play long passages of double kick - or constant 16/32nd note ostinatos - so I probably have very little stamina in that regard....as I said before "I'm really not a double bass drum player". There are some great ones out there who I'm sure would give you much better advice.
cheers
Gavin
It's well known that the sound of your drums recorded and live are always pristine - the gold standard. On the flip side we all know the raw sound of acoustic drums sound nothing like they do when mic'd up. That said, would it be possible to hear the raw, un-mic'd sound of your kit?
The only way you could ever understand what the drums sound like 'un-mic'd' would be if you were in the same room as them. Anything I could record (suposedly un-mic'd) would have to go through some kind of mic - whether it's in the camera or the phone or whatever. So that would be 'coloured' and unrepresentative as well - and most likely distort or compress because of the volume. It would just be is a bad sounding version of my drums - but still you would not understand what they really sounded like acoustically.
Hi Old PIT Guy
I recall you saying in interviews that you don't consider yourself a 'double-bass drum' player, but you've obviously put some quality time into this area of kit drumming. I've been working in fits and starts with your herta groove; a combination of repeating hertas on the bass drums with a common 6/8 afro-cuban motif on top, and one where you shift the start of the motif so the backbeats don't clash with the herta pattern.
Yes compared to guys who really specialize in 'double bass drum' I am really nowhere. If I had really wanted to follow some serious stuff on the double pedal I should have practised a few thousand hours on them - but I don't hear myself playing a lot of double bass drum in the musical situations that I find myself in. I can tell you that herta rhythm took me quite some time to get it clean and even sounding.
And so I'm wondering if you can offer any technical insight into what your process was for working up what presents as an effortless herta stream with the bass drums, and perhaps what your approach is to footwork in general; such as your thoughts on foot fulcrums in relation to the foot board, heel height, preferred technique for quick doubles (single pedal), stamina and conditioning of the feet for double kicks, etc etc.
I can only tell you what works for me - and some of that is to do with me being 6'2". I sit low - lower than most drummers I've come across. Is that good? Probably not for double bass drum - but it's where I feel comfortable. I really don't feel good sitting up high. Also I sit WAY back from the drums - I mean to the point where I can just bring my knees together in front of my snare drum whilst keeping my feet on the pedals in their playing position. That is because I play the pedal about half way down the pedal board. That is where the 'sweet spot' is for me. I move my leg and foot much less than if they were up the front of the board. I always play heel up - and I always play single stroke patterns - 99% of the time starting with the right foot. I don't ever play long passages of double kick - or constant 16/32nd note ostinatos - so I probably have very little stamina in that regard....as I said before "I'm really not a double bass drum player". There are some great ones out there who I'm sure would give you much better advice.
cheers
Gavin
Last edited:
bananers
Junior Member
Hey Gavin,
Hope you're doing well! Just had a quick question regarding the Porcupine Tree "Anesthetize" DVD - was there a reason "Prodigal" was left off the DVD even though it's on the CD? I think I saw pro recorded footage circling on Youtube, just curious really!
All the best,
Alannah
Hope you're doing well! Just had a quick question regarding the Porcupine Tree "Anesthetize" DVD - was there a reason "Prodigal" was left off the DVD even though it's on the CD? I think I saw pro recorded footage circling on Youtube, just curious really!
All the best,
Alannah
Gavin Harrison
DRUMMERWORLD PRO DRUMMER
Hi Alannah
Hope you're doing well! Just had a quick question regarding the Porcupine Tree "Anesthetize" DVD - was there a reason "Prodigal" was left off the DVD even though it's on the CD? I think I saw pro recorded footage circling on Youtube, just curious really!
I can't remember why we didn't include that one on the DVD. We certainly filmed it at that show - and it's a good piece.
Hi MattH10
Have you used the 18 inch Zildjian Oriental China in your set up before? I’ve seen you use the 12 and 16 mainly, but always either the Z or the current china you use for Pineapple Thief.
I haven't used that one before but I did play the 'Z' model 18" a lot in the Porcupine Tree days - in fact I've still got a couple of them. I know they don't make them any more.
cheers
Gavin
Hope you're doing well! Just had a quick question regarding the Porcupine Tree "Anesthetize" DVD - was there a reason "Prodigal" was left off the DVD even though it's on the CD? I think I saw pro recorded footage circling on Youtube, just curious really!
I can't remember why we didn't include that one on the DVD. We certainly filmed it at that show - and it's a good piece.
Hi MattH10
Have you used the 18 inch Zildjian Oriental China in your set up before? I’ve seen you use the 12 and 16 mainly, but always either the Z or the current china you use for Pineapple Thief.
I haven't used that one before but I did play the 'Z' model 18" a lot in the Porcupine Tree days - in fact I've still got a couple of them. I know they don't make them any more.
cheers
Gavin
bananers
Junior Member
Yeah it's one of my favourite tracks from In Absentia - ah well! Cheers Gavin
I’ve read before that you use lug locks sometimes for your snare, in particular the tension rod nearest the point of a rim shot. Have you always used them? For the times you didn’t use them, did you just keep an eye on the tension rod and adjust the tension accordingly so it doesn’t go completely loose?
Gavin Harrison
DRUMMERWORLD PRO DRUMMER
I've used something like that for quite a while. Some of it depends on the drum. For instance if I used my old Ludwig 400 and played super heavy rim shot back-beats on it - the bolts nearest me will undo themselves to the point that they are completely loose and there's a good chance that one or two of the bolts from the bottom of the drum will be on the floor by the 3rd song. That drum wasn't designed for that kind of action. On other drums I have in recent times been using the Pearl "spin tight tension rods" on the 3 nearest bolts to where I'm hitting. I find that the Lug Locks just fly off.
cheers
Gavin