DREAM THEATER · DRUM FILLS

The drum fills in These Walls

23 fills to learn, played 79 times across 211 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
55 BPM
TIME
3/4
BARS
211
LENGTH
11:29
DIFFICULTY
71/100

Bar 15, and 3 more times

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 15, 63, 111 AND 167 · LANDS ON BAR 16

On crash, snare 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 16. 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 19, and 2 more times

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 19, 67 AND 115 · LANDS ON BAR 20

On crash, snare and kick. 53 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 20. 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 23, and 3 more times

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 23, 71, 119 AND 175 · LANDS ON BAR 24

On crash, snare, mid tom, kick and hi-hat foot. 59 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 24. 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, and 11 more times

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 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 40. 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 41, and 5 more times

On crash, ride, snare and kick. 53 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 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 45, and 5 more times

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 45, 85, 93, 139 AND 145, AND 1 MORE PLACE · LANDS ON BAR 46

On crash, ride, snare and kick. 54 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 46. 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 4 more times

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 47, 87, 95, 143 AND 147 · LANDS ON BAR 48

On crash, ride, snare and kick. 57 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 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, and 5 more times

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 49-51 AND 97-99 · LANDS ON BAR 52

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 59 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 53, and 3 more times

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 53, 57, 157 AND 161 · LANDS ON BAR 54

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom, kick and hi-hat foot. 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 54. 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 · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 55 AND 159 · LANDS ON BAR 56

On crash, snare, high tom, mid tom, kick and hi-hat foot. 60 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 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, and 1 more time

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 59 AND 191 · LANDS ON BAR 60

On crash, ride, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 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 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 76, and 7 more times

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, kick and hi-hat foot. 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 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 101, and 3 more times

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 101, 103, 105 AND 137 · LANDS ON BAR 102

On hi-hat, 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 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 107

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 107 · LANDS ON BAR 108

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom and kick. 60 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 108. 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 · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 123 · LANDS ON BAR 124

On crash, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, kick and hi-hat foot. 69 out of 100 -- demanding -- 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 152, and 1 more time

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 152-153 · LANDS ON BAR 154

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, 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 154. 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 · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 163 · LANDS ON BAR 164

On crash, ride, snare and kick. 62 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 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 171

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 171 · LANDS ON BAR 172

On crash, snare and kick. 53 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 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 187

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 187 · LANDS ON BAR 188

On crash, snare, high tom and kick. 66 out of 100 -- demanding -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. 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 199, and 1 more time

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 199 AND 207 · LANDS ON BAR 200

On crash, snare 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 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 203

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 203 · LANDS ON BAR 204

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 57 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 204. 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, and 1 more time

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 205 AND 209 · LANDS ON BAR 206

On crash, snare and kick. 54 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 211

LOOP · 55 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 211

On crash and kick. 49 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet.

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 These Walls?

23 distinct fills, played 79 times: bars 15, 19, 23, 28-39, 41-43 and 45, and 46 more places.

What is the hardest fill in These Walls?

The one at bar 28, at 71 out of 100. 211 bars of 3/4 -- not four -- at 55 BPM, 11:29 of playing on crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, high tom, mid tom, floor tom, kick and hi-hat foot.

READ OFF THE SCORE ITSELF · 211 BARS ANALYSED