BLOOD INCANTATION · DRUM FILLS

The drum fills in The Giza Power Plant

33 fills to learn, played 104 times across 169 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
97 BPM
TIME
4/4
BARS
169
LENGTH
6:57
DIFFICULTY
86/100

Bar 2

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 2 · LANDS ON BAR 3

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 56 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 3. 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 4, and 4 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 4-8 · LANDS ON BAR 9

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 71 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 9. 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 10

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 10 · LANDS ON BAR 11

On crash, ride, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 100 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 11. 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 12, and 4 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 12-16 · LANDS ON BAR 17

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 89 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. 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

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 18 · LANDS ON BAR 19

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom and kick. 67 out of 100 -- demanding -- 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 20, and 4 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 20-24 · LANDS ON BAR 25

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 88 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. 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 28

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 28 · LANDS ON BAR 29

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom and floor tom. 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 29. 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 4 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 32-36 · LANDS ON BAR 37

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 100 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. 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 4 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 39-43 · LANDS ON BAR 44

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 92 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. 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 47, and 1 more time

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 47 AND 53 · LANDS ON BAR 48

On hi-hat, snare, floor tom and kick. 28 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. 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

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 49 · LANDS ON BAR 50

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 38 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. 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 51

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 51 · LANDS ON BAR 52

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 48 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 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 55, and 2 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 55, 57 AND 63 · LANDS ON BAR 56

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 40 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. In the song it lands on bar 56. 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

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 59 · LANDS ON BAR 60

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 51 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. In the song it lands on bar 60. 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 61, and 1 more time

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 61 AND 81 · LANDS ON BAR 62

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, mid 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 62. 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 65

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 65 · LANDS ON BAR 66

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 56 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. 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 · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 67 · LANDS ON BAR 68

On crash, hi-hat, snare, 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 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, and 4 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 69-73 · LANDS ON BAR 74

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 58 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 74. 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 75, and 2 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 75-77 · LANDS ON BAR 78

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, 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 78. 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

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 83 · LANDS ON BAR 84

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare 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 84. 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 86, and 2 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 86-88 · LANDS ON BAR 89

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 100 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 89. 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 90, and 3 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 90-93 · LANDS ON BAR 94

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 93 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. 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 97, and 1 more time

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 97 AND 105 · LANDS ON BAR 98

On snare and kick. 19 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. 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

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 101 · LANDS ON BAR 102

On crash, snare, floor tom and kick. 29 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- and what decides that is how fine the subdivision is. 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 108, and 1 more time

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 108-109 · LANDS ON BAR 110

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 75 out of 100 -- demanding -- 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 113, and 2 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 113-115 · LANDS ON BAR 116

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 69 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 116. 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, and 2 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 117-119 · LANDS ON BAR 120

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 69 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. 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 121

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 121 · LANDS ON BAR 122

On crash, snare, 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 122. 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 123, and 7 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 123-126 AND 138-141 · LANDS ON BAR 127

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 68 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. In the song it lands on bar 127. 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, and 13 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 128-134 AND 143-149 · LANDS ON BAR 135

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 66 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how much of it falls off the beat. 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 154, and 1 more time

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 154-155 · LANDS ON BAR 156

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor 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 156. 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 158, and 1 more time

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 158-159 · LANDS ON BAR 160

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 81 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 160. 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, and 8 more times

LOOP · 97 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 161-169

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 100 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for.

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 The Giza Power Plant?

33 distinct fills, played 104 times: bars 2, 4-8, 10, 12-16, 18 and 20-24, and 34 more places.

What is the hardest fill in The Giza Power Plant?

The one at bar 10, at 100 out of 100. 169 bars of 4/4 at a walking 97 BPM, 6:57 of playing, on crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick.

READ OFF THE SCORE ITSELF · 169 BARS ANALYSED