BLIND GUARDIAN · DRUM FILLS

The drum fills in Somewhere Far Beyond

28 fills to learn, played 61 times across 347 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
190 BPM
TIME
4/4
BARS
347
LENGTH
7:18
DIFFICULTY
64/100

Bar 16, and 3 more times

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 16-17 AND 224-225 · LANDS ON BAR 18

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 45 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 18. 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 25

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 25 · LANDS ON BAR 26

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom and kick. 59 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 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 42, and 1 more time

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 42-43 · LANDS ON BAR 44

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom and kick. 49 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 44. 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, and 1 more time

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 50-51 · LANDS ON BAR 52

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 52 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 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 70, and 1 more time

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 70-71 · LANDS ON BAR 72

On crash, snare 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 72. 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 74, and 4 more times

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 74-78 · LANDS ON BAR 79

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 25 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how often it moves around the kit. In the song it lands on bar 79. 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 92, and 3 more times

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 92-95 · LANDS ON BAR 96

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 96. 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 100, and 2 more times

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 100, 127 AND 131 · LANDS ON BAR 101

On crash, snare and kick. 49 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 101. 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, and 1 more time

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 102-103 · LANDS ON BAR 104

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 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 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 109

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 109 · LANDS ON BAR 110

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom and kick. 47 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 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

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 117 · LANDS ON BAR 118

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 47 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 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 124, and 1 more time

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 124-125 · LANDS ON BAR 126

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 46 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 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 133, and 1 more time

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 133-134 · LANDS ON BAR 135

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 48 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 135. 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 · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 149 · LANDS ON BAR 150

On snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 41 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 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

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 157 · LANDS ON BAR 158

On snare, floor tom and kick. 29 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 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 165

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 165 · LANDS ON BAR 166

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 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 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 185, and 1 more time

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 185 AND 331 · LANDS ON BAR 186

On crash, snare and kick. 21 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 186. 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 197, and 8 more times

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 197-205 · LANDS ON BAR 206

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 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 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 209

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 209 · LANDS ON BAR 210

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 59 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 210. 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 213

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 213 · LANDS ON BAR 214

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 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 214. 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 237

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 237 · LANDS ON BAR 238

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, 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 238. 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 241, and 1 more time

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 241 AND 259 · LANDS ON BAR 242

On high tom, mid tom and kick. 27 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 242. 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 251

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 251 · LANDS ON BAR 252

On high tom, mid tom and floor tom. 26 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 252. 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 267

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 267 · LANDS ON BAR 268

On high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 37 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 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 275

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 275 · LANDS ON BAR 276

On high tom, mid tom and floor tom. 37 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 276. 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 283, and 1 more time

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 283 AND 299 · LANDS ON BAR 284

On hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom and kick. 41 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 284. 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 291

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 291 · LANDS ON BAR 292

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 46 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 292. 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 341, and 4 more times

LOOP · 190 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 341-345 · LANDS ON BAR 346

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 34 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 346. 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 Somewhere Far Beyond?

28 distinct fills, played 61 times: bars 16-17, 25, 42-43, 50-51, 70-71 and 74-78, and 28 more places.

What is the hardest fill in Somewhere Far Beyond?

The one at bar 237, at 65 out of 100. 347 bars at 190 BPM -- fast, and 7:18 of it without a break -- on crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom, kick and hi-hat foot.

READ OFF THE SCORE ITSELF · 347 BARS ANALYSED