DREAM THEATER · DRUM FILLS

The drum fills in The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun

27 fills to learn, played 66 times across 218 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
124 BPM
TIME
4/4
BARS
218
LENGTH
6:10
DIFFICULTY
71/100

Bar 8, and 1 more time

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 8 AND 20 · LANDS ON BAR 9

On crash, ride, snare and kick. 72 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. 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, and 1 more time

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 10 AND 22 · LANDS ON BAR 11

On crash, ride, snare and kick. 71 out of 100 -- demanding -- 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 34, and 1 more time

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 34 AND 46 · LANDS ON BAR 35

On crash, hi-hat, snare 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 35. 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 · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 55, 96 AND 104 · LANDS ON BAR 56

On ride, snare, high 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 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 62, and 1 more time

On crash, ride, snare and kick. 32 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 64. 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 68, and 3 more times

On crash, ride, hi-hat, 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 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 75

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 75 · LANDS ON BAR 76

On hi-hat, snare 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 76. 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 · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 79 · LANDS ON BAR 80

On crash, hi-hat, snare 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 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 87, and 1 more time

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 87-88 · LANDS ON BAR 89

On crash, snare 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 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 100, and 1 more time

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 100 AND 188 · LANDS ON BAR 101

On ride, snare and kick. 34 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 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 110, and 5 more times

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 110-112 AND 198-200 · LANDS ON BAR 113

On crash, ride, 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 113. 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, and 1 more time

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 116 AND 202 · LANDS ON BAR 117

On ride, 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 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 118, and 2 more times

On crash, ride, snare and kick. 55 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 121. 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 139, and 2 more times

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 139-141 · LANDS ON BAR 142

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, mid 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 142. 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 143, and 1 more time

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 143-144 · LANDS ON BAR 145

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom, kick and hi-hat foot. 44 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 145. 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 152

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 152 · LANDS ON BAR 153

On crash, hi-hat, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 73 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 153. 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 2 more times

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 154-156 · LANDS ON BAR 157

On crash, hi-hat, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 72 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 157. 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 6 more times

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 158-164 · LANDS ON BAR 165

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom, kick and hi-hat foot. 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 165. 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

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 166 · LANDS ON BAR 167

On hi-hat, snare 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 167. 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 168

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 168 · LANDS ON BAR 169

On hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 31 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 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 3 more times

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 170-173 · LANDS ON BAR 174

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 174. 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 · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 175-176 · LANDS ON BAR 177

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 38 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 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 182, and 2 more times

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 182-184 · LANDS ON BAR 185

On crash, ride, snare, high tom, mid 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 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 191, and 1 more time

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 191-192 · LANDS ON BAR 193

On crash, ride, snare, high 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 193. 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 204

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 204 · LANDS ON BAR 205

On ride, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 68 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 205. 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 1 more time

LOOP · 124 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 207-208 · LANDS ON BAR 209

On crash, snare 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 209. 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, and 1 more time

On crash, snare and kick. 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 217. 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 Ones Who Help to Set the Sun?

27 distinct fills, played 66 times: bars 8, 10, 20, 22, 34 and 46, and 29 more places.

What is the hardest fill in The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun?

The one at bar 116, at 83 out of 100. 218 bars of 4/4 at 124 BPM, about 6:10 of playing, on crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom, kick and hi-hat foot.

READ OFF THE SCORE ITSELF · 218 BARS ANALYSED