Half-bar drum fill

The pattern

Bar 1 of 4: the groove, with the crash on the 1

Bars 2–3 of 4: the groove

Bar 4 of 4: the fill

Each column is a sixteenth. x is a hit, a bold X an accent.

▶ Hear itPlays it twice at 92 BPM.

How to count it

Count: 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Bar 1, the groove, with the crash on the 1: kick on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4, hi-hat on every eighth except the 1, crash on 1. Said aloud: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Bars 2–3, the groove: kick on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4, hi-hat on every eighth. Said aloud: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Bar 4, the fill: kick on 1 and 3; snare on 2 and 3 e, accented on 2; hi-hat on 1 & 2 &; high tom on the & and a of 3; mid tom on 4 e; floor tom on the & and a of 4. Said aloud: 1 & 2 & 3 e & a 4 e & a

How to practise it

1. Play the groove until it sits.
2. Play the fill on its own, from the 3 of bar 4, two beats long. Kick on 1 and 3; snare on 2 and 3 e, accented on 2; hi-hat on 1 & 2 &; high tom on the & and a of 3; mid tom on 4 e; floor tom on the & and a of 4.
3. Go from the last bar of groove into the fill, and land on the 1 with the crash and the kick together.
4. Play the whole loop as DRUMY does: 16 bars at 92 BPM, about 42 seconds.

What DRUMY judges

Each note is judged on when it lands, within 140 ms, and on which drum, not on how hard: the accents are drawn, not judged. All of what DRUMY judges.

• The hi-hat foot. A pedal chick with no note to meet is an overhit.

Easy songs near 92 BPM

Easy songs at 92 BPM, picked for their tempo alone, not for this pattern.

Custard PieLed ZeppelinMake It Wit ChuQueens of the Stone AgeWhy'd You Only Call Me When You're High?Arctic MonkeysAfricaTotoWhateverOasis

All easy drum songs →