How to Sound Like Matt Garstka — Drum Gear & Setup Guide | MetalForge
Replicate Matt Garstka's Animals as Leaders drum sound. Gear list, settings, and technique tips to get that signature tone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Matt Garstka use?
Matt Garstka plays Tama Starclassic Performer drums — a birch/bubinga hybrid shell kit. The Starclassic Performer combines birch's bright attack with bubinga's warm, resonant sustain, giving Garstka a kit with excellent projection and tonal depth. He typically runs a 22" kick, three rack toms (8", 10", 12"), and two floor toms (14", 16") — a moderately sized configuration for a technically complex style.
What cymbals does Matt Garstka use?
Matt Garstka plays Meinl Byzance cymbals throughout his setup. The Byzance Traditional series is his primary choice — dark, complex cymbals with interesting tonal decay and dry hi-hat response. His setup typically includes 14" Byzance Traditional Medium Hi-Hats, multiple crashes (18" and 20"), and a 22" Polyphonic Ride. The Byzance line's darker character reflects his jazz influence and contrasts with the brighter AAX/A Series setups common in metal.
What is Matt Garstka's signature drumming technique?
Garstka's defining technique is four-way limb independence — running each limb as a separate rhythmic voice that combines with the others to create polyrhythmic composite patterns. He also deploys metric modulation (shifting the felt tempo by recontextualizing subdivisions without changing BPM) and displaced hi-hat accent patterns informed by jazz ride cymbal technique. His Berklee training gives his playing a dynamic range and rhythmic sophistication rare in technical metal.
What pedals does Matt Garstka use?
Matt Garstka uses Tama Speed Cobra double pedals. The Speed Cobra's unique 'Rolling Glide' design positions the footboard hinge at the rear of the pedal, creating a more ergonomic feel that suits the precise, individually placed kick notes of Garstka's polyrhythmic patterns. The spring-loaded system provides responsive, consistent feel across the dynamic range from subtle polyrhythmic pulses to full-power kick accents.
How long does it take to develop Matt Garstka's polyrhythmic style?
Developing genuine four-way limb independence takes months to years of daily focused practice, not weeks. The mental component — holding separate rhythmic streams in independent cognitive tracks — often takes longer than the physical execution. Most drummers find that practicing each limb combination separately (bass drum + hi-hat, then adding snare, then adding the fourth voice) is more effective than attempting the full combination from the start. Garstka himself studied jazz drumming extensively before developing his metal application of these techniques.