FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY · DRUM FILLS

The drum fills in The Man That I Was Not (AI transcribed)

34 fills to learn, played 69 times across 227 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
158 BPM
TIME
4/4
BARS
227
LENGTH
5:43
DIFFICULTY
51/100

Bar 16

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 16 · LANDS ON BAR 17

On hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 29 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 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 32, and 1 more time

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 32 AND 141 · LANDS ON BAR 33

On hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor 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 33. 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 34, and 6 more times

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 34-40 · LANDS ON BAR 41

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom, kick and hi-hat foot. 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 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 1 more time

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 47-48 · LANDS ON BAR 49

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 30 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 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 52, and 1 more time

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 52 AND 109 · LANDS ON BAR 53

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 38 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 53. 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 56, and 1 more time

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 56 AND 113 · LANDS ON BAR 57

On hi-hat, snare, mid tom and kick. 35 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 57. 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 60, and 9 more times

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 60-64 AND 117-121 · LANDS ON BAR 65

On crash, snare, mid 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 65. 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 66

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 66 · LANDS ON BAR 67

On hi-hat, snare, mid tom and kick. 43 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 67. 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 1 more time

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 71 AND 75 · LANDS ON BAR 72

On crash, snare 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 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 73, and 1 more time

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 73 AND 81 · LANDS ON BAR 74

On crash, snare 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 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 77

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 77 · LANDS ON BAR 78

On snare, mid tom and kick. 38 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 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 85

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 85 · LANDS ON BAR 86

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 86. 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 87, and 1 more time

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 87 AND 91 · LANDS ON BAR 88

On crash, snare 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 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

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 89 · LANDS ON BAR 90

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 66 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. 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 93

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 93 · LANDS ON BAR 94

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 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

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 97 · LANDS ON BAR 98

On crash, snare and kick. 44 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 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 99

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 99 · LANDS ON BAR 100

On hi-hat, snare and kick. 57 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 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 101

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 101 · LANDS ON BAR 102

On crash, hi-hat, snare, floor tom and kick. 55 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 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 105

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 105 · LANDS ON BAR 106

On snare, mid tom and kick. 30 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 106. 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 · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 123 · LANDS ON BAR 124

On hi-hat, snare, mid tom and kick. 56 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 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 144, and 6 more times

On crash, ride, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 29 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 151. 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 · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 163 · LANDS ON BAR 164

On crash, ride, 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 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 166, and 2 more times

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 166-168 · LANDS ON BAR 169

On crash, 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 169. 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 · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 170-171 · LANDS ON BAR 172

On snare, mid 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 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 175, and 1 more time

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 175-176 · LANDS ON BAR 177

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 177. 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 180

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 180 · LANDS ON BAR 181

On crash, snare, mid 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 181. 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 184

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 184 · LANDS ON BAR 185

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 29 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 185. 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 2 more times

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 186-188 · LANDS ON BAR 189

On crash, ride, 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 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 199

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 199 · LANDS ON BAR 200

On crash, snare, mid tom, 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 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 205

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 205 · LANDS ON BAR 206

On crash, snare and kick. 57 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 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

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 207 · LANDS ON BAR 208

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 56 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 208. 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 211

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 211 · LANDS ON BAR 212

On crash, snare, mid 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 212. 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 215

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 215 · LANDS ON BAR 216

On crash, snare, mid 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 216. 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 219, and 1 more time

LOOP · 158 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 219-220 · LANDS ON BAR 221

On crash, snare, mid 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 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.

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 Man That I Was Not (AI transcribed)?

34 distinct fills, played 69 times: bars 16, 32, 34-40, 47-48, 52 and 56, and 35 more places.

What is the hardest fill in The Man That I Was Not (AI transcribed)?

The one at bar 87, at 67 out of 100. 227 bars at 158 BPM -- fast, and 5:43 of it without a break -- on crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom, kick and hi-hat foot.

READ OFF THE SCORE ITSELF · 227 BARS ANALYSED