X JAPAN · DRUM FILLS

The drum fills in Rose Of Pain

33 fills to learn, played 78 times across 354 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
80 BPM
TIME
4/4
BARS
354
LENGTH
17:42
DIFFICULTY
81/100

Bar 6, and 5 more times

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 6-11 · LANDS ON BAR 12

On crash, snare, high 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 12. 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 3 more times

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 32-35 · LANDS ON BAR 36

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, 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 36. 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 · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 37 · LANDS ON BAR 38

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, floor tom and kick. 94 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 39, and 1 more time

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 39 AND 43 · LANDS ON BAR 40

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, floor tom and kick. 74 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 40. 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 · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 47 · LANDS ON BAR 48

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, floor 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 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 51

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 51 · LANDS ON BAR 52

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, floor tom and kick. 67 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 52. 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 58, and 3 more times

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 58, 74, 77 AND 102 · LANDS ON BAR 59

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, floor tom and kick. 76 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. 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 62

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 62 · LANDS ON BAR 63

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, floor tom and kick. 90 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 63. 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 70

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 70 · LANDS ON BAR 71

On crash, ride, snare, high 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 71. 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, and 11 more times

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 81-92 · LANDS ON BAR 93

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, floor 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 93. 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 99

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 99 · LANDS ON BAR 100

On crash, ride, snare, floor tom and kick. 80 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 100. 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 104

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 104 · LANDS ON BAR 105

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, floor tom 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 105. 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 106

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 106 · LANDS ON BAR 107

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, floor tom and kick. 92 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 107. 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 108, and 6 more times

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 108-114 · LANDS ON BAR 115

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, floor tom and kick. 76 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. 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 118

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 118 · LANDS ON BAR 119

On hi-hat, high tom and floor tom. 20 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. In the song it lands on bar 119. 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 122

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 122 · LANDS ON BAR 123

On hi-hat, snare, high tom, floor tom and kick. 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 123. 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 140

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 140 · LANDS ON BAR 141

On crash, snare, high tom and kick. 43 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. In the song it lands on bar 141. 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 148, and 1 more time

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 148 AND 271 · LANDS ON BAR 149

On crash, hi-hat, snare and kick. 43 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 149. 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 156, and 1 more time

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 156 AND 279 · LANDS ON BAR 157

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, floor tom and kick. 45 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. In the song it lands on bar 157. 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, and 3 more times

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 171-172 AND 294-295 · LANDS ON BAR 173

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, floor tom and kick. 41 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. In the song it lands on bar 173. 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 188, and 1 more time

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 188 AND 311 · LANDS ON BAR 189

On crash, snare, high tom, floor tom and kick. 59 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 189. 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 196, and 1 more time

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 196 AND 335 · LANDS ON BAR 197

On crash, snare, floor tom and kick. 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 197. 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 204

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 204 · LANDS ON BAR 205

On crash, floor tom and kick. 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 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 212

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 212 · LANDS ON BAR 213

On crash, high tom, floor tom and kick. 53 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 213. 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 216

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 216 · LANDS ON BAR 217

On high tom and floor tom. 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 217. 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 220

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 220 · LANDS ON BAR 221

On crash, snare, high tom, floor tom 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 221. 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 228, and 1 more time

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 228 AND 236 · LANDS ON BAR 229

On hi-hat, snare, floor tom and kick. 43 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 229. 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 245

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 245 · LANDS ON BAR 246

On crash, snare, floor tom and kick. 18 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. In the song it lands on bar 246. 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 253

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 253 · LANDS ON BAR 254

On crash, 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 254. 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

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 261 · LANDS ON BAR 262

On hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 26 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. In the song it lands on bar 262. 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 263

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 263 · LANDS ON BAR 264

On crash, snare, mid tom 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 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 339, and 8 more times

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 339-347 · LANDS ON BAR 348

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, floor tom and kick. 89 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 348. 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 353

LOOP · 80 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 353 · LANDS ON BAR 354

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high 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 354. 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 Rose Of Pain?

33 distinct fills, played 78 times: bars 6-11, 32-35, 37, 39, 43 and 47, and 37 more places.

What is the hardest fill in Rose Of Pain?

The one at bar 37, at 94 out of 100. 354 bars of 4/4 at a walking 80 BPM, 17:42 of playing, on crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick.

READ OFF THE SCORE ITSELF · 354 BARS ANALYSED