How to Sound Like Gavin Harrison — Drum Gear & Setup Guide | MetalForge
Replicate Gavin Harrison's Porcupine Tree / King Crimson drum sound. Gear list, settings, and technique tips to get that signature tone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gavin Harrison's polyrhythm grid system?
Gavin's grid system involves placing a repeating accent pattern of N beats against a 4/4 (or other) time signature. The pattern cycles back to its starting point every N×4 beats, creating a predictable but complex-sounding polyrhythm. For example, a 5-note pattern against 4/4 resolves every 20 beats (5×4). He maps these cycles precisely and practices them until they feel like grooves rather than math problems.
What cymbals does Gavin Harrison use?
Gavin Harrison primarily uses Zildjian K Custom Dark cymbals — hi-hats, crashes, and ride — for their complex, warm overtones. He selects cymbals that have distinct musical voices rather than simply being loud, which suits Porcupine Tree's progressive arrangements.
How does Gavin Harrison play polyrhythms against the band?
Gavin often plays in a rhythmically related but distinct meter to the rest of Porcupine Tree. For example, he might play 5-beat phrases while the band is in 4/4. Because the meters are mathematically related, they align at predictable resolution points, creating a tension-and-release structure that Steven Wilson has built compositionally into their arrangements.
What makes Gavin Harrison's linear fills distinctive?
Linear drumming avoids any simultaneous hand-and-foot hits — every note is isolated in time, creating a single melodic line rather than a chordal texture. Gavin's linear fills have a flowing, almost conversational quality because he treats the drum kit as a melody instrument. This technique is less common in metal than in jazz, which is partly what makes his progressive rock/metal application so distinctive.
Is Gavin Harrison's drumming good for beginners to study?
His fundamental techniques — linear fills, dynamic contrast, hi-hat independence — are excellent targets for intermediate drummers. The polyrhythmic grid system requires more advanced foundation. Begin with his simpler Porcupine Tree performances like The Sound of Muzak and work toward the more complex material on Fear of a Blank Planet and Closure/Continuation.