DEAFHEAVEN · DRUM FILLS

The drum fills in Amethyst

29 fills to learn, played 51 times across 206 bars. Two fills that share a rhythm and differ only in how they are spread round the toms are one fill here, learned once and orchestrated twice.

TEMPO
82 BPM
TIME
3/4
BARS
206
LENGTH
7:32
DIFFICULTY
87/100

Bar 5

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 5 · LANDS ON BAR 6

On snare, mid tom and kick. 25 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. In the song it lands on bar 6. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 13

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 13 · LANDS ON BAR 14

On crash, ride, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 57 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 14. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 21

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 21 · LANDS ON BAR 22

On crash, ride, snare, mid tom and kick. 55 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 22. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 37

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 37 · LANDS ON BAR 38

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 57 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 38. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 44, and 3 more times

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 44-45 AND 52-53 · LANDS ON BAR 46

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 58 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 46. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 61, and 1 more time

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 61 AND 197 · LANDS ON BAR 62

On ride, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 64 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 62. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 73

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 73 · LANDS ON BAR 74

On hi-hat, snare, mid tom and kick. 58 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 74. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 77

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 77 · LANDS ON BAR 78

On snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 72 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 78. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 81

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 81 · LANDS ON BAR 82

On ride, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 60 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 82. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 85, and 3 more times

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 85, 105, 141 AND 161 · LANDS ON BAR 86

On snare and kick. 61 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 86. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 89, and 1 more time

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 89 AND 97 · LANDS ON BAR 90

On hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 69 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 90. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 93

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 93 · LANDS ON BAR 94

On snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 62 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 94. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 101, and 2 more times

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 101-103 · LANDS ON BAR 104

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 53 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 104. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 107

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 107 · LANDS ON BAR 108

On crash and kick. 45 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 108. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 109

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 109 · LANDS ON BAR 110

On snare, mid tom and floor tom. 47 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 110. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 117, and 1 more time

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 117 AND 137 · LANDS ON BAR 118

On ride, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 76 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 118. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 125

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 125 · LANDS ON BAR 126

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 72 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 126. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 129, and 2 more times

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 129-131 · LANDS ON BAR 132

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 89 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 132. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 133, and 3 more times

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 133, 143, 147 AND 151 · LANDS ON BAR 134

On hi-hat, snare, mid tom and kick. 75 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 134. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 149

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 149 · LANDS ON BAR 150

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 54 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 150. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 154, and 1 more time

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 154-155 · LANDS ON BAR 156

On crash, snare and kick. 87 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 156. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 159

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 159 · LANDS ON BAR 160

On snare, mid tom and kick. 72 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 160. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 163

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 163 · LANDS ON BAR 164

On crash, snare and kick. 62 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 164. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 165, and 2 more times

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 165, 181 AND 189 · LANDS ON BAR 166

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 66 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 166. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 167, and 1 more time

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 167 AND 169 · LANDS ON BAR 168

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 63 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 168. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 171

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 171 · LANDS ON BAR 172

On crash, snare and kick. 68 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 172. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 173

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 173 · LANDS ON BAR 174

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 69 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 174. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 183, and 2 more times

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 183, 185 AND 187 · LANDS ON BAR 184

On crash, snare and kick. 63 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 184. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

Bar 205

LOOP · 82 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 205 · LANDS ON BAR 206

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 68 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 206. The exercise loops the figure on its own first, and the one after it puts it back: one bar of rest to count yourself in, the figure, then the landing with the time still running. Getting out of a fill is the half most people never practise.

How a fill is practised

A fill is rhythm before it is orchestration. The room plays the whole figure on the snare first, puts the feet under it second, and moves it round the toms last -- looped on its own, round and round, until the hands know it. Then it puts the fill back where it lives: a bar of rest to count in, the figure, and the downbeat it lands on, because landing square is the other half of the job.

PRACTISE THESE FILLS →

Questions

How many drum fills are in Amethyst?

29 distinct fills, played 51 times: bars 5, 13, 21, 37, 44-45 and 52-53, and 38 more places.

What is the hardest fill in Amethyst?

The one at bar 129, at 89 out of 100. 206 bars of 3/4 -- not four -- at 82 BPM, 7:32 of playing on crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick.

READ OFF THE SCORE ITSELF · 206 BARS ANALYSED