Lion King - Carter McLean - The Miller Machine

2 min read

Carter McLean’s drum set setup for the Broadway production of Lion King currently running at the Minskoff Theatre.

“Lion King is a really demanding book technically but it is also really fun to play. It has a lot of Peter Gabriel type ‘In Your Eyes’ grooves and some Steve Gadd types of patterns. A few sections are great for keeping your hands up to speed. One song, ‘Can’t Wait To Be King’ has a Medium/Up Tempo Shuffle in the left hand on snare while playing up beats on the floor tom with the right hand.

The best part of this show is all the styles you get to play. It has an African/Pop core and then branches off to Rock, Latin, R&B Ballads, and Big Drum breaks.

I use the Roland SPD-30 Octapad to trigger orchestral crash's, woodblock effects, an Electronic 808 dance type of kit, plus a remote Roland V-Drum Pad above the hi hat for tambourine and other effects during the show.

I can’t say enough about the snare I’m using at the show. Ronn Dunnett makes my drums and that one is 6.5"x14" Stainless Steel with Die Cast Hoops. He makes unbelievably versatile instruments and also complete drum sets now with George Way drums. He makes the best drums I have ever played and I proudly endorse Dunnett/George Way drums. I'm trying to get a new set in the theatre to replace the DW's."

Drums: DW Maple

22" Bass Drum
10" Small Tom
12” Small Tom
14” Floor Tom
16” Floor Tom
Remo Clear Vintage Emperors on Toms, Coated CS Dot on Snare, Clear Powerstroke 3 on Kick

Snare:

Dunnett 6.5"x14" Stainless Steel with Die Cast Hoops

Cymbals: Zildjian (left to right)

15" K Prototype Hats
19" Constantinople Crash/Ride
9" Oriental Splash
21" Dark Complex Dry Ride
20" K China
22" K China

Percussion:

12" Palongo Hand Drum from Ghana
LP Granite Blocks
Triangle
Shakers
Caxixi
26" DW Orchestral Bass Drum

Electronics:

Roland SPD-30 Octapad
Roland V-Drum Pad

Sticks: Vic Firth

3A American Classic Drumsticks
Rute 202
Rute 505
5A Dual Tone

"I also endorse Earthworks Mics, and Westone In-Ear Monitors which are both unbelievable companies. Amazing stuff. I’m also a very proud Zildjian artist. The people at Zildjian are world class individuals and Paul Francis is a true craftsman."

Lion King - Broadway - Carter McLean
December 2014

Carter McLean’s drum set setup for the Broadway production of Lion King currently running at the Minskoff Theatre.

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