SLIPKNOT · DRUM FILLS

The drum fills in Skeptic

30 fills to learn, played 81 times across 223 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
94 BPM
TIME
4/4
BARS
223
LENGTH
9:10
DIFFICULTY
62/100

Bar 9, and 2 more times

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 9-11 · LANDS ON BAR 12

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom 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 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 30, and 1 more time

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 30 AND 69 · LANDS ON BAR 31

On hi-hat, snare and kick. 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 31. 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 35, and 3 more times

On crash, 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 37. 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 3 more times

On crash, hi-hat, snare, floor tom and kick. 40 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 41. 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, and 3 more times

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 47-48 AND 106-107 · LANDS ON BAR 49

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 37 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 49. 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 50

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 50 · LANDS ON BAR 51

On floor tom. 0 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how little of it repeats. In the song it lands on bar 51. 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 83, and 4 more times

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 83-87 · LANDS ON BAR 88

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom 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 88. 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 2 more times

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 89-91 · LANDS ON BAR 92

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 41 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 92. 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 98, and 1 more time

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 98-99 · LANDS ON BAR 100

On crash, snare and kick. 44 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 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 102

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 102 · LANDS ON BAR 103

On crash, 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 103. 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 111

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 111 · LANDS ON BAR 112

On hi-hat, snare and kick. 51 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 112. 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

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 116 · LANDS ON BAR 117

On crash, snare 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 117. 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 119

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 119 · LANDS ON BAR 120

On hi-hat, snare, mid 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 120. 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, and 3 more times

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 122-125 · LANDS ON BAR 126

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom 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 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 127

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 127 · LANDS ON BAR 128

On crash, ride, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 21 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how often it moves around the kit. In the song it lands on bar 128. 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 134, and 1 more time

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 134-135 · LANDS ON BAR 136

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 41 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 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 142, and 9 more times

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 142-151 · LANDS ON BAR 152

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 52 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 152. 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 · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 156-157 · LANDS ON BAR 158

On crash, hi-hat, snare and kick. 75 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. 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 164, and 3 more times

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 164-167 · LANDS ON BAR 168

On crash, snare, floor 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 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 170, and 1 more time

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 170-171 · LANDS ON BAR 172

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom 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 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, and 2 more times

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 173-175 · LANDS ON BAR 176

On crash, snare and kick. 36 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 176. 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, and 2 more times

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 177-179 · LANDS ON BAR 180

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 180. 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 186, and 1 more time

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 186-187 · LANDS ON BAR 188

On crash, snare and kick. 40 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 188. 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 190, and 1 more time

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 190-191 · LANDS ON BAR 192

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom and kick. 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 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 194, and 1 more time

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 194-195 · LANDS ON BAR 196

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 44 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 196. 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 199

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 199 · LANDS ON BAR 200

On crash, snare, floor tom 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 200. 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 201, and 2 more times

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 201-203 · LANDS ON BAR 204

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 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 204. 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, and 2 more times

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 205, 215 AND 220 · LANDS ON BAR 206

On crash, snare, floor tom and kick. 22 out of 100 -- straightforward -- 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.

Bar 207, and 3 more times

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 40 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 211. 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 222

LOOP · 94 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 222 · LANDS ON BAR 223

On crash, snare and kick. 36 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 223. 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 Skeptic?

30 distinct fills, played 81 times: bars 9-11, 30, 35-36, 39-40, 47-48 and 50, and 30 more places.

What is the hardest fill in Skeptic?

The one at bar 156, at 75 out of 100. 223 bars of 4/4 at a walking 94 BPM, 9:10 of playing, on crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick.

READ OFF THE SCORE ITSELF · 223 BARS ANALYSED