Gavin Harrison
Porcupine Tree · Rhythmic illusion and groove displacement
The techniques Gavin Harrison actually uses across their path, moves and song studies — each one opens the same exercise workout the rest of the app links to.
Single Stroke Roll — Moving Around the Kit
Level 1Hands · 50–160 BPM
You alternate hands, one hit each, non-stop. You do NOT stay on the snare: every bar your hands move to a different drum so your arms learn to travel.
Goal: Even singles that stay even while your arms travel around the kit
WorkoutAccent & Tap Control
Level 3Hands · 55–130 BPM
Every beat has 4 notes. The first one is loud (stick starts high), the other three are whispers (stick stays 2cm off the drum).
Goal: You control volume, not the stick
WorkoutHi-Hat Foot on the Offbeats
Level 3Independence · 50–120 BPM
Your left foot closes the hi-hat on the '&' — the space between the numbers. Most drummers' left foot is asleep; this wakes it up.
Goal: An independent left foot that keeps the pulse for you
WorkoutFour-Limb Ostinato
Level 4Independence · 45–110 BPM
'Ostinato' just means a short pattern you repeat without changing. Here your right hand and both feet play a fixed loop while your left hand improvises on snare and toms.
Goal: Genuine four-way independence
WorkoutGroups of 3 Over 4/4 — Explained
Level 4Progressive & Odd Time · 50–120 BPM
The bar is still normal 4/4 — 16 notes. But you accent every 3rd note. Because 3 does not divide into 16, the accent lands somewhere new each beat and only lines up again after 3 bars. This is the 'over the barline' sound.
Goal: Comfortable playing one rhythm on top of another
Workout3 Over 2 — Hands in 3, Feet in 2
Level 5Progressive & Odd Time · 45–110 BPM
In the same amount of time, your hands play 3 notes and your feet play 2. They only line up on note 1. The classic phrase to say out loud is 'NICE cup of TEA' — hands on every syllable, feet on NICE and of.
Goal: Internalise the polyrhythmic feel
WorkoutMetric Modulation — Explained
Level 5Progressive & Odd Time · 45–110 BPM
You play triplets (3 notes per beat). Then you decide that one of those triplet notes is now the new beat. The tempo appears to change but you never actually stopped — that is what Dream Theater do constantly.
Goal: Dance of Eternity thinking, at a beginner-safe tempo
WorkoutDouble Kick 16ths + Ride Bell
Level 3Double Kick · 55–140 BPM
Your feet play a constant stream of 4 notes per beat, alternating right-left. Your hands play a normal rock groove on top so it sounds like music, not a machine gun exercise.
Goal: Even 16ths with nothing dropped for a full minute
WorkoutHi-Hat Foot Chatter (Half-Time)
Level 3Independence · 50–130 BPM
Half-time means the snare only lands once a bar (on beat 3) so everything feels slower and heavier. Keep your left foot ticking underneath so the pulse never disappears.
Goal: Holding an underlying pulse during quiet sections
WorkoutPanic Attack Endurance Test
Level 5Double Kick · 70–180 BPM
The benchmark test. Dream Theater's Panic Attack sits around 150 BPM. You are working up to holding that for a full chorus.
Goal: A full chorus of 16ths at 150 BPM
WorkoutFree Play Challenge
Level 3Progressive & Odd Time · 55–160 BPM
No grid, no tab. You play music and deliberately drop in at least three things you practised in this session.
Goal: Turn exercises into music
Workout