NIGHTWISH · DRUM FILLS

The drum fills in The Greatest Show On Earth

28 fills to learn, played 49 times across 504 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
83 BPM
TIME
4/4
BARS
504
LENGTH
24:17
DIFFICULTY
54/100

Bar 47, and 2 more times

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 47, 97 AND 131 · LANDS ON BAR 48

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 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 55, and 1 more time

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 55 AND 105 · LANDS ON BAR 56

On crash, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 28 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 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 71, and 4 more times

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 71, 113, 273, 297 AND 353 · LANDS ON BAR 72

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 26 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 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 79

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 79 · LANDS ON BAR 80

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom and kick. 32 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 80. 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 84, and 1 more time

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 84 AND 118 · LANDS ON BAR 85

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 29 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 85. 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 · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 89 · LANDS ON BAR 90

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 36 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 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 123

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 123 · LANDS ON BAR 124

On crash, snare, high tom, 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 124. 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 138, and 1 more time

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 138-139 · LANDS ON BAR 140

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, 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 140. 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 147

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 147 · LANDS ON BAR 148

On crash, snare and kick. 46 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 148. 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 151

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 151 · LANDS ON BAR 152

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor 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 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 153, and 5 more times

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 153-155 AND 169-171 · LANDS ON BAR 156

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom, kick and hi-hat foot. 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 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 159

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 159 · LANDS ON BAR 160

On crash, ride, snare, floor tom 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 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 163

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 163 · LANDS ON BAR 164

On crash, hi-hat, snare and kick. 33 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 164. 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 167

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 167 · LANDS ON BAR 168

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, 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 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 179

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 179 · LANDS ON BAR 180

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 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 185, and 2 more times

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 185-187 · LANDS ON BAR 188

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, mid tom 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 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 265

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 265 · LANDS ON BAR 266

On crash, hi-hat, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 29 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 266. 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 281

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 281 · LANDS ON BAR 282

On crash, hi-hat, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 19 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how often it moves around the kit. In the song it lands on bar 282. 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 289

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 289 · LANDS ON BAR 290

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom and kick. 27 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 290. 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 305, and 1 more time

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 305 AND 409 · LANDS ON BAR 306

On crash, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 6 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 306. 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 313

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 313 · LANDS ON BAR 314

On crash, high tom, mid 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 314. 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 320, and 1 more time

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 320-321 · LANDS ON BAR 322

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 34 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 322. 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 361

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 361 · LANDS ON BAR 362

On crash, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 20 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how often it moves around the kit. In the song it lands on bar 362. 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 369, and 1 more time

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 369 AND 385 · LANDS ON BAR 370

On crash, snare and kick. 32 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 370. 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 376, and 1 more time

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 376-377 · LANDS ON BAR 378

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, 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 378. 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 388

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 388 · LANDS ON BAR 389

On ride, snare, high tom, mid tom and kick. 31 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 389. 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 392, and 1 more time

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 392-393 · LANDS ON BAR 394

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, 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 394. 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 421

LOOP · 83 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 421 · LANDS ON BAR 422

On crash, hi-hat, high tom, 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 422. 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 The Greatest Show On Earth?

28 distinct fills, played 49 times: bars 47, 55, 71, 79, 84 and 89, and 33 more places.

What is the hardest fill in The Greatest Show On Earth?

The one at bar 159, at 62 out of 100. 504 bars of 4/4 at a walking 83 BPM, 24:17 of playing, on crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom, kick and hi-hat foot.

READ OFF THE SCORE ITSELF · 504 BARS ANALYSED