DANCE GAVIN DANCE · DRUM FILLS

The drum fills in The Robot With Human Hair: Rebirth

30 fills to learn, played 86 times across 299 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
177 BPM
TIME
3/4
BARS
299
LENGTH
5:38
DIFFICULTY
50/100

Bar 24, and 2 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 24, 40 AND 168 · LANDS ON BAR 25

On hi-hat, snare 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 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 27, and 5 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 27-28, 43-44 AND 226-227 · LANDS ON BAR 29

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor 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 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 31, and 1 more time

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 31 AND 47 · LANDS ON BAR 32

On crash, snare and kick. 28 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 32. 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 36

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 36 · LANDS ON BAR 37

On hi-hat, snare and mid tom. 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 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 60, and 1 more time

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 60 AND 147 · LANDS ON BAR 61

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 40 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 61. 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 3 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 62, 66, 141 AND 153 · LANDS ON BAR 63

On crash, hi-hat, snare and kick. 61 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 63. 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 64, and 2 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 64, 143 AND 151 · LANDS ON BAR 65

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom and kick. 58 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 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 68, and 3 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 68-69 AND 155-156 · LANDS ON BAR 70

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 70. 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 · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 71-72 · LANDS ON BAR 73

On crash, snare, floor tom and kick. 51 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 73. 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 76, and 1 more time

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 76 AND 163 · LANDS ON BAR 77

On snare. 23 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 77. 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 80, and 1 more time

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 80-81 · LANDS ON BAR 82

On crash, snare, floor 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 82. 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, and 3 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 83-84 AND 170-171 · LANDS ON BAR 85

On crash, 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 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 94

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 94 · LANDS ON BAR 95

On snare, mid tom and floor tom. 15 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 95. 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

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 102 · LANDS ON BAR 103

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor 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 103. 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 104, and 3 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 104, 116, 269 AND 281 · LANDS ON BAR 105

On crash, 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 105. 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 106, and 3 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 106, 114, 271 AND 279 · LANDS ON BAR 107

On crash, 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 107. 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 3 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 110, 118, 275 AND 283 · LANDS ON BAR 111

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 111. 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 126, and 3 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 126, 134, 291 AND 299 · LANDS ON BAR 127

On crash, snare 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 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 136, and 1 more time

On crash, snare, mid 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 138. 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 1 more time

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 139 AND 255 · LANDS ON BAR 140

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 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 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 195

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 195 · LANDS ON BAR 196

On hi-hat, snare and kick. 55 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 196. 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 · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 207 · LANDS ON BAR 208

On mid tom and floor tom. 16 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. 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 210, and 1 more time

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 210-211 · LANDS ON BAR 212

On mid tom and floor tom. 21 out of 100 -- straightforward -- 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, and 4 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 215-219 · LANDS ON BAR 220

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 55 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 220. 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 221, and 5 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 221-223 AND 237-239 · LANDS ON BAR 224

On crash, snare and kick. 33 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 224. 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 229, and 6 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 229-235 · LANDS ON BAR 236

On crash, snare, 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 236. 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 2 more times

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 241-243 · LANDS ON BAR 244

On crash, snare, 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 244. 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 253

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 253 · LANDS ON BAR 254

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 36 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 254. 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 257

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 257 · LANDS ON BAR 258

On crash, mid tom, floor 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 258. 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 263, and 1 more time

LOOP · 177 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 263 AND 267 · LANDS ON BAR 264

On crash, snare, mid tom, 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 264. 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 Robot With Human Hair: Rebirth?

30 distinct fills, played 86 times: bars 24, 27-28, 31, 36, 40 and 43-44, and 53 more places.

What is the hardest fill in The Robot With Human Hair: Rebirth?

The one at bar 62, at 69 out of 100. 299 bars of 3/4 -- not four -- at 177 BPM, 5:38 of playing on crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick.

READ OFF THE SCORE ITSELF · 299 BARS ANALYSED