Eric Harland, Modern Jazz Drumming

Drumeo YouTube Gear Breakdown

In this Drumeo Live session, Brandon Toews sits down with Eric Harland — one of the most creative drummers of his generation and a true innovator in modern jazz. Known for his deep musicality, fearless improvisation, and ability to navigate any musical landscape, Eric opens up about his influences, creative process, and the unique choices that shape his sound.

Between conversations, Eric brings it all to life with jaw-dropping performances of “Travelers” (Aaron Parks), “Circuits” (Chris Potter), “Human Nature” (Michael Jackson), and more. His approach blends tradition with exploration, making him a guiding light for aspiring jazz drummers who want to expand beyond the ordinary.

Let’s explore the Kit, Snares, Cymbals and Heads Eric uses in this Gear Breakdown.

---

🥁 The Kit

Yamaha Maple Hybrid (Autumn Red)

• 12×8 rack tom
• 14×14 floor tom
• 16×16 floor tom
• 20×15 bass drum

Maple Hybrid shells deliver warmth, focus, and a balanced note that translates across low and high dynamics. The compact 20×15 bass drum provides a fast response and an open low-end that sits beautifully in modern jazz, fusion, and freer textures.

🛒 Yamaha Absolute Hybrid Maple (Europe)

---

💥 The Snares

Two 14×5.5 snare drums

Running a pair of 14×5.5 Yamaha maple snares gives Eric quick access to contrasting voices. One can live in an articulate, crisp tuning for ghost-note clarity, while the second can be set a touch lower for a rounder response. Swapping between them allows instant changes in color during a tune.

🛒 Yamaha Tour Custom Snare Drum (Europe)

---

🛎️ The Cymbals

Zildjian Prototype cymbals

Eric’s cymbal palette leans into complex, musical overtones with a wide dynamic ceiling. Prototype pieces give him unique bells, crash swells, and ride articulation that encourage interaction with the band in real time. Expect quick stick definition at soft volumes and controlled wash when he opens up.

Zildjian “Prototype” cymbals are not available for public purchase. These are one-off or limited experimental designs developed by Zildjian’s master cymbalsmiths, often tailored for specific artists like Eric Harland. Prototypes allow drummers to test new alloys, weights, hammering styles, and tonal profiles before Zildjian decides whether to release them as part of their production line

That means you won’t find these exact cymbals in stores — they are unique to Eric’s setup. If you want to capture a similar sound, Zildjian’s K Constantinople (Europe) and K Custom (Europe) series offer comparable dark, complex, and expressive tones that work beautifully in modern jazz contexts.

---

🥁 The Heads

Remo Ambassador heads

Ambassadors offer a classic single-ply feel, ideal for touch and tone. They respond instantly to small changes in stick height and position, which is perfect for comping, brush work, and nuanced melodic tom phrasing.

🛒 Remo Ambassador Heads (Europe)

---

Practice Pick: Quiet Dynamics Anywhere

If you are shedding soft touch, finger control, or fast doubles without waking the neighbors, try the Drumeo QuietPad. The double-sided surface lets you alternate between a snare-like rebound and a quieter, softer feel that is perfect for jazz comping patterns, off-beat accents, and control studies between rehearsals.

---

Why this setup works: Eric’s rig is compact, musical, and highly reactive. The hybrid shells and Ambassador heads keep the tone open and expressive, the dual snares provide instant color changes, and the prototype cymbals reward dynamics and conversation with the band.

You can find everything mentioned in this Gear Breakdown at Sweetwater or Thomann if you are overseas. If this video lit a spark to start drumming (or sharpen your chops), take the next step and click the link to try Drumeo, free for 7 Days.

*This article contains affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission from the product seller if you make a purchase. For more info, check out our privacy page.

SHARE THIS: