MESHUGGAH · DRUM FILLS

The drum fills in In Death - Is Life/In Death - Is Death

25 fills to learn, played 206 times across 289 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
126 BPM
TIME
4/4
BARS
289
LENGTH
9:10
DIFFICULTY
66/100

Bar 1, and 5 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 1-6 · LANDS ON BAR 7

On crash, snare and kick. 48 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 7. 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 9, and 1 more time

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 9 AND 57 · LANDS ON BAR 10

On crash, snare and kick. 35 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 10. 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 11, and 5 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 11-16 · LANDS ON BAR 17

On crash, snare and kick. 55 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 17. 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 18, and 5 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 18, 20, 22, 26 AND 28, AND 1 MORE PLACE · LANDS ON BAR 19

On crash, hi-hat, snare and kick. 49 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 19. 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 24

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 24 · LANDS ON BAR 25

On crash, hi-hat, 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 25. 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 32, and 22 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 32-54 · LANDS ON BAR 55

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 55 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 55. 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 59, and 20 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 59-79 · LANDS ON BAR 80

On crash, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 62 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 80. 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 82, and 38 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 82-94, 98-110 AND 166-178 · LANDS ON BAR 95

On crash, hi-hat, snare and kick. 50 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 95. 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 112, and 2 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 112-114 · LANDS ON BAR 115

On crash, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 49 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 115. 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 116, and 4 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 116-120 · LANDS ON BAR 121

On crash, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 56 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 121. 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 124

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 124 · LANDS ON BAR 125

On crash, hi-hat, snare and kick. 56 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 125. 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 136, and 5 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 136-141 · LANDS ON BAR 142

On crash, hi-hat, snare and kick. 46 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 142. 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 144, and 2 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 144-146 · LANDS ON BAR 147

On crash, snare and kick. 42 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 147. 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 · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 149 · LANDS ON BAR 150

On crash, snare and kick. 48 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 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 157, and 5 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 157-162 · LANDS ON BAR 163

On crash, hi-hat, snare and kick. 62 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 163. 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 182, and 9 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 182-191 · LANDS ON BAR 192

On crash, hi-hat, snare, floor tom and kick. 62 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 192. 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 195, and 5 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 195-200 · LANDS ON BAR 201

On crash, snare and kick. 49 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 201. 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 202, and 2 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 202-204 · LANDS ON BAR 205

On crash, snare and kick. 49 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 205. 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 221, and 14 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 221-235 · LANDS ON BAR 236

On crash, kick and hi-hat foot. 61 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 236. 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 238

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 238 · LANDS ON BAR 239

On crash, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 45 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 239. 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 240, and 6 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 240-246 · LANDS ON BAR 247

On crash, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 51 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 247. 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 248, and 10 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 248-258 · LANDS ON BAR 259

On crash, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 54 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 259. 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 261, and 8 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 261-263, 269-271 AND 277-279 · LANDS ON BAR 264

On crash, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 47 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 264. 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 265, and 5 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 265-267 AND 273-275 · LANDS ON BAR 268

On crash, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 46 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 268. 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 281, and 8 more times

LOOP · 126 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 281-289

On crash, hi-hat, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 55 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet.

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 In Death - Is Life/In Death - Is Death?

25 distinct fills, played 206 times: bars 1-6, 9, 11-16, 18, 20 and 22, and 30 more places.

What is the hardest fill in In Death - Is Life/In Death - Is Death?

The one at bar 24, at 64 out of 100. 289 bars of 4/4 at 126 BPM, about 9:10 of playing, on crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom, kick and hi-hat foot.

READ OFF THE SCORE ITSELF · 289 BARS ANALYSED