METALLICA · DRUM FILLS

The drum fills in When Hell Freezes Over

34 fills to learn, played 107 times across 287 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
140 BPM
TIME
4/4
BARS
287
LENGTH
8:12
DIFFICULTY
47/100

Bar 19, and 1 more time

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 19-20 · LANDS ON BAR 21

On snare, mid tom and floor tom. 2 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 21. 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 22, and 6 more times

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 22, 24, 30, 48 AND 82, AND 2 MORE PLACES · LANDS ON BAR 23

On ride, snare 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 23. 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 26, and 17 more times

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 26-28, 34-36, 38-40, 98-100 AND 102-104, AND 1 MORE PLACE · LANDS ON BAR 29

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare and kick. 37 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 42, and 2 more times

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 42-44 · LANDS ON BAR 45

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom and kick. 39 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 45. 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

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 52 · LANDS ON BAR 53

On crash, snare and mid tom. 18 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. 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

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 56 · LANDS ON BAR 57

On hi-hat, snare, mid tom and floor tom. 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 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

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 60 · LANDS ON BAR 61

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 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 64, and 1 more time

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 64 AND 132 · LANDS ON BAR 65

On hi-hat, snare and kick. 27 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 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 67, and 1 more time

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 67-68 · LANDS ON BAR 69

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom and kick. 39 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 69. 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 74, and 2 more times

On crash, hi-hat, 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 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 84

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 84 · LANDS ON BAR 85

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 31 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 88

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 88 · LANDS ON BAR 89

On mid tom and kick. 7 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. 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 107, and 1 more time

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 107-108 · LANDS ON BAR 109

On crash, ride, snare, mid tom and kick. 39 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 109. 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 120, and 1 more time

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 120 AND 144 · LANDS ON BAR 121

On hi-hat, 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 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 122, and 2 more times

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 122-124 · LANDS ON BAR 125

On crash, ride, hi-hat, 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 125. 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 128

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 128 · LANDS ON BAR 129

On hi-hat, 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 129. 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 2 more times

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 138-140 · LANDS ON BAR 141

On crash, ride, 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 141. 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, and 1 more time

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 147-148 · LANDS ON BAR 149

On crash, hi-hat, snare 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 149. 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 156, and 4 more times

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 156-160 · LANDS ON BAR 161

On crash, ride, hi-hat, snare and kick. 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 161. 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, and 2 more times

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 171-173 · LANDS ON BAR 174

On crash, hi-hat, snare 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 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 176

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 176 · LANDS ON BAR 177

On crash, hi-hat, snare and kick. 70 out of 100 -- demanding -- 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 179

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 179 · LANDS ON BAR 180

On crash, hi-hat, snare and kick. 85 out of 100 -- hard -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. 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 183, and 1 more time

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 183-184 · LANDS ON BAR 185

On crash, hi-hat, snare and kick. 65 out of 100 -- demanding -- 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 193, and 5 more times

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 193-198 · LANDS ON BAR 199

On crash, hi-hat and kick. 58 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is the speed of the hand keeping time. In the song it lands on bar 199. 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 200, and 2 more times

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 200-202 · LANDS ON BAR 203

On crash, hi-hat and kick. 58 out of 100 -- a step up -- and what decides that is the speed of the hand keeping time. In the song it lands on bar 203. 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 · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 205 AND 242 · LANDS ON BAR 206

On crash, ride and kick. 25 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 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, and 1 more time

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 211-212 · LANDS ON BAR 213

On ride, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 20 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is how many notes a second it asks for. In the song it lands on bar 213. 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 214

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 214 · LANDS ON BAR 215

On crash, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 30 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 215. 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 216, and 3 more times

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 216, 220, 228 AND 232 · LANDS ON BAR 217

On snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 10 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. 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.

Bar 223, and 1 more time

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 223-224 · LANDS ON BAR 225

On crash, snare, mid tom and kick. 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 225. 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 236

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BAR 236 · LANDS ON BAR 237

On snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick. 18 out of 100 -- straightforward -- and what decides that is the independence between the hands and the feet. In the song it lands on bar 237. 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 238, and 2 more times

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 238-240 · LANDS ON BAR 241

On crash, 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 241. 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 260, and 13 more times

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 260-273 · LANDS ON BAR 274

On crash, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor 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 274. 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 286, and 1 more time

LOOP · 140 BPM
PLAYED AT BARS 286-287

On crash, hi-hat, snare and kick. 39 out of 100 -- a fair first song -- 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 When Hell Freezes Over?

34 distinct fills, played 107 times: bars 19-20, 22, 24, 26-28, 30 and 34-36, and 45 more places.

What is the hardest fill in When Hell Freezes Over?

The one at bar 179, at 85 out of 100. 287 bars of 4/4 at 140 BPM, about 8:12 of playing, on crash, ride, hi-hat, snare, mid tom, floor tom and kick.

READ OFF THE SCORE ITSELF · 287 BARS ANALYSED