IMMORTAL DISFIGUREMENT · DRUM FILLS

The drum fills in King

34 fills to learn, played 48 times across 182 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
130 BPM
TIME
4/4
BARS
182
LENGTH
5:36
DIFFICULTY
77/100

Bar 25

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 25 · LANDS ON BAR 26

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 62 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 26. 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 28, and 1 more time

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 28-29 · LANDS ON BAR 30

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 71 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 30. 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 31

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 31 · LANDS ON BAR 32

On ride, snare, mid tom and kick. 86 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 32. 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 33, and 1 more time

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 33-34 · LANDS ON BAR 35

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 54 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 35. 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 36, and 3 more times

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 36-37 AND 60-61 · LANDS ON BAR 38

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom and kick. 84 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. 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 40, and 1 more time

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 40-41 · LANDS ON BAR 42

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom and kick. 91 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 42. 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 45

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 45 · LANDS ON BAR 46

On snare, high tom and mid tom. 53 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 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 47

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 47 · LANDS ON BAR 48

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom and kick. 78 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 48. 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 49, and 1 more time

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 49 AND 73 · LANDS ON BAR 50

On snare, mid tom and kick. 38 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 50. 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 53, and 2 more times

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 53, 77 AND 145 · LANDS ON BAR 54

On snare and mid tom. 42 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 54. 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 57, and 1 more time

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 57-58 · LANDS ON BAR 59

On crash, snare, mid 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 59. 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 64, and 1 more time

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 64-65 · LANDS ON BAR 66

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom and kick. 85 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 66. 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 67

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 67 · LANDS ON BAR 68

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 60 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 68. 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 69

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 69 · LANDS ON BAR 70

On snare, mid tom and kick. 55 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 70. 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 · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 81 · LANDS ON BAR 82

On snare and mid 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 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 89

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 89 · LANDS ON BAR 90

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 55 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. 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 · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 93 · LANDS ON BAR 94

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 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 96, and 1 more time

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 96-97 · LANDS ON BAR 98

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 52 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 98. 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 1 more time

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 101 AND 103 · LANDS ON BAR 102

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 42 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 102. 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 105

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 105 · LANDS ON BAR 106

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 56 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 106. 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, and 1 more time

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 109 AND 111 · LANDS ON BAR 110

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 35 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- 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 114

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 114 · LANDS ON BAR 115

On crash, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 35 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. 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 117

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 117 · LANDS ON BAR 118

On crash, ride, snare, mid tom and floor tom. 38 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. 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 128

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 128 · LANDS ON BAR 129

On crash, 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 129. 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 135

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 135 · LANDS ON BAR 136

On crash, snare, floor 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 136. 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 141

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 141 · LANDS ON BAR 142

On mid tom, floor tom and kick. 50 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 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 149

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 149 · LANDS ON BAR 150

On snare and mid tom. 50 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 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 153

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 153 · LANDS ON BAR 154

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 64 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 154. 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

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 157 · LANDS ON BAR 158

On snare, mid tom and kick. 54 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 158. 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 161

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 161 · LANDS ON BAR 162

On crash, mid tom and kick. 40 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 162. 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

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 165 · LANDS ON BAR 166

On snare, mid tom and kick. 60 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 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 169

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 169 · LANDS ON BAR 170

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 70 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 170. 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 · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 173 · LANDS ON BAR 174

On snare, mid tom and kick. 57 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 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 177

LOOP · 130 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 177 · LANDS ON BAR 178

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 65 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 178. 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 King?

34 distinct fills, played 48 times: bars 25, 28-29, 31, 33-34, 36-37 and 40-41, and 34 more places.

What is the hardest fill in King?

The one at bar 36, at 92 out of 100. 182 bars of 4/4 at 130 BPM, about 5:36 of playing, on crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick.

READ OFF THE SCORE ITSELF · 182 BARS ANALYSED