DRUMMER CAFE

Here's what came out from the Zildjian Live chat event with Gavin

Moderator
Zildjian would like to welcome all of our Z Club members to our chat session with drumming artist, GAVIN HARRISON today starting at 3 PM, Eastern Daylight Time.
For those of you that would like to submit questions you may start doing that up to one half hour before the start of the session (2:30 PM EDT). We do ask that you try to keep your questions brief to allow for as many questions as possible in the time that we have available. Zildjian monitors all chats and cannot guarantee that every question will be answered during the time allotted. Gavin will begin to respond to your questions promptly at 3 PM and we hope that you will enjoy the session that follows.

From Iggy Pop to Porcupine Tree and so much in between, Drumming artist GAVIN HARRISON has established himself as a performer that can do it all. As a winner of this year’s Modern Drummer 2007 Readers Poll in the “Progressive” category, the attached write-up stated, “Between his challenging method books and DVDs and his otherworldly playing with Porcupine Tree, Gavin has taken prog drumming into new directions – and has brought a legion of fans into his camp.” We cannot agree more so join us with your questions for Gavin and find out how he does it all.
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Moderator
Gavin, thank you for joining us today and congratulations on you winning the "Progressive Drummer" catagory on the Modern Drummer Readers Poll this year.
It's a pleasure to be here - and thanks - I'm delighted to have won the Progressive Drummer award this year...and very surprised too.

Moderator
Before we start to address questions from our Z Club members can you let everyone know what you have been doing lately?
I've just come back from a US tour with Porcupine Tree - and I've been working on a new side project with a guy I met on MySpace called 05Ric. I've been mixing it today in fact.

614 from
Gavin, how often do you practice and what routine do you use?
I try to practice every day when I'm home. I usually just work on concepts and improvise until I come across something I like. Then I try and develop it further.

drumpad
Do you think that it is important in today's music business for a professional drummer to have a complete home studio?
No, but it sure helps

snareside
How did you start your professional career?
I got a summer gig (26 weeks) promoting a bread company called Sunblest Bread. we had to play dixieland jazz on top of a double decker bus and drive all over the UK. When we arrived at a super market we'd get off and go and play by the bread counter.

gabriel_figueroa
How can one develope the sense of knowing how to play the right groove,the simple to enhance a song as you do with porc.tree?
I guess by just listening to the song and hope that some ideas of grooves come to you. Many years of experience helps too.

614 from
How did you land the gig with Porcupine Tree?
I've been friends with the keyboard player Richard Barbieri since 1990- and when the last drummer left - he called me to invite me to play on "In Absentia" as a session drummer. After the sessions the band asked me to join.

drumpad
What drumming education did you have?
My Dad played a little bit of drums - so he taught me to start with. I just played along to his jazz record collection (under his watchful eye) until he thought I was serious enough to take 'proper' lessons. I studied with a show drummer friend of my Dad (Joe Hodson) and he taught me to read and hold the sticks correctly. Then in 1980 I studied with ex-Berklee student Dave Cutler and he showed me a lot of modern stuff.

614 from
Do you prefer touring over recording?
Really I prefer recording - I like the creative process. Playing live is a different thing - but it takes up so much time hanging around on tour for weeks on end and only play

moondogrex
Would you suggest drawin influence from particular players or does emulating others detract from develpoping one's own voice?
There's nothing wrong with emulating different drummers- especially when you're young and still developing your own style. Just don't get stuck on one particular drummer.

snareside
How important is it to know how to read music?
I think it's important to do it especially if you want to be a professional drummer. There will come times that it would be really helpful to read...and I'm not talking necessarily about sight reading - but enough that you can write out a chart for a tune quickly and then be able to perform it without mistakes.

gabriel_figueroa
Any tips on playing ghost notes?
Yes - try to not play them too softly - they end up inaudible in a pop/rock concert and really struggle to come through in a recording once all the other instruments are mixed on top.

moondogrex
Are there any drummers who you are particularly inspired by lately? If so who ... and why?
Dave DiCenso, Benny Greb, Morgan Agren and Vinnie Colaiuta

Comment from Gavin Harrison
I've been checking out a lot of stuff on YouTube and have been so overwhelmed at how many good players there are out there. Some incredible Gospel drummers too.

lopass from
Hello, greatings from Poland. I can't wait for the concert in Warsaw. You are very often in Poland. Do you like polish crowd?
Yes we always have a great time in Poland

Shane G
Who are you currently listening to or inspired by?
Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects with Morgan Agren on drums. He was one of the last drummers to play with Frank Zappa. It’s some incredible rhythmic design between the drums and guitar. I’ve been writing some of it out so that I can understand it a bit more.

614 from
Do you tend to "write" you own drum parts when working with artists or do they ask for specific grooves or fills?
I write out a basic chart so that I understand the shape of the tune or song and where all the stops and accents go. I usually indicate the basic groove at the top each new section. After that I try to find my own way.

SantiBanks
Hello Gavin, thanks for you time. I was wondering, what is the recording setup you are using at the moment in your studio?
I use Logic Pro on a Mac G5. I use a Mackie 32/8 bus analog board along with these mics

Comment from Gavin Harrison
Sennheiser 421
Electro Voice N/D 408
Schoeps CMC5
Royer R122
Neumann TLM 103
AKG CK391
Audix D6
Shure SM91
Shure SM57
Audix i5
Shure SM57

Comment from Gavin Harrison
I'm using my new Sonor SQ2 drums in the studio now too and a variety of Zildjian K's and A's

cem kaya
While recording some drummers like to play on time and others like to play before or back of the beat Which one do u prefer?
I have a tendency towards playing on the back of the beat. I think it's come from years of listening to Jeff Porcaro and me wanting to emulate the way he made the music feel.

PapaD
Did you have alot of input on the drum production from Deadwing? Killer Sound!
I recorded the drums for Deadwing here in my studio - so yes I had ALL of the input. I also had a lot of input in the mixing stage about how the drums should sound - what kind of eq was working - reverbs etc.

PapaD
I'd guess that you always listen to many different styles of music ?
Absolutely

romanos
what's the next step after practicing paraddidles, doubles, singles? What disciplines do you incorporate to your playing?
For me it was to stop practising rudiments and start working on my mind. Whilst I did practice rudiments for many thousands of hours - I felt that my mind was dormant whilst I was doing it - and I had no creative inspiration when I got on to the kit. I couldn't think of one decent fill.

lopass from
What do you expecting from drums sound? Why did you choose Sonor drums?
Actually Sonor invited me to join them, I borrowed a set from them and played it at home for a while. I was really impressed with the tone and how easy they were to tune. I knew I had found a sound that I could work with. I've been playing them for 6 years now.

cem kaya
Whats the brand of the white bass drum beater you use with your axis pedals on your rhytmic hor. dvd ?
It's just a regular Pearl two way beater - I put white tape on them so you could see them easier on the video.

moondogrex
The info on your DVD Rhythmic Visions is fantastic! Any other educational materials you would recommend?
I made a second DVD last year called "Rhythmic Horizons" - it basically continues from where the previous one left off.

Slimbone from
Does Iggy Pop still do many shows? He must be in his early 60's. Is that right?
I believe he's still going strong. I worked with him 20 years ago. He was a real powerhouse of energy back then. A great experience

Wood@ HEADZUP from FL
Congratz on the Modern Drummer award. I hate lables but do you think "Prog" is again coming into the mainstream?
thanks - I've no idea if prog is making a comeback. I don't really get along with labels in music. There's just good music and bad music in my opinion.

romanos
Do you use a metronome when recording?
95of the time yes.

Haeneboer
Your drums always sound great. Could you give me the specs? Material,thickness,depths, inside veneer etc? Thanks
My latest kit is a Sonor SQ2 22x17, 8x7, 10x8, 12x9, 14x12 and 16x14. I have a 5x14 birch snare drum. The bass drum is in the heavy maple. The floor toms are medium maple, the rack toms (8,10,12) are in the thin maple There's no veneer inside.

Shane G
What do you expect from your cymbals? Why did you choose Zildjian?
I expect the cymbals to be musical. I picked Zildjian because I felt they were the most musical. Simple really.

romanos
Do you think that the way drums are played nowdays has dramatically changed? Do you use any particular techniques?Moller etc.
I see people playing louder and faster than ever before...where's it going to end?

Comment from Gavin Harrison
I don't use Moller technique

Otto from
If you could only use one set of hi-hats, one crash, and one ride for every gig (any style of music), what would you choose?
The most versatile cymbals that I have are the 13" K Hi Hats - the 20" K ride and the K Custom Dark Crash 18"

Johnny!
Gavin, when you're recording at home for PT, do you work alone then post to a server for Steven's evaluation, or what?
I work alone - but Steven and the other guys live pretty close so they come round and hear what I've come up with.

cem kaya
why dont you prefer big sizes like 10x10 or 16x16 ? Does the sound changes a lot with 1 o 2 " bigger ?
I find the big sizes hard to play - they feel different

rod from
I think I saw you on an American TV talk show (Keenan I. Wayans) some years ago playing with Lisa Stansfield, was that you?
correct

mind_drummer
Hi Gavin, when playing live do you flirt with improvisation?
Yes I try to improvise every night - even if it's only slight differences - it's stops me going mad.

Moderator
Gavin, even though there are a lot of questions still pending, our time is at an end. Thank you for taking the time to be with us today.
Many thanks to all the folks here for the questions. It's been fun

Moderator
Zildjian would like to invite all of our Z Club members to join us next Tuesday on June 19 at 8 PM EDT for a chat session with SHEILA E. Please come join us then.