Dream Theater – The Dance Of Eternity

The Dance Of Eternity drum sheet music – a note-for-note transcription of Mike Portnoy’s drum part on Dream Theater’s “The Dance Of Eternity”, from the album Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory (1999). Every groove, fill and cymbal hit is written out from the original recording in a clean, print-ready PDF.

About the drum part

“The Dance Of Eternity” is the instrumental centrepiece of Dream Theater’s concept album Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory. It is famous for its huge number of time-signature changes – on the first page of this transcription alone the meter moves through 4/4, 7/8, 3/4, 6/8, 3/8, 7/16, 2/4, 5/8 and 5/4.

Mike Portnoy’s part matches the band’s unison lines note for note: an intro with a snare overdub full of triplets, sextuplet runs around the kit, open and closed hi-hat figures, grace notes, and a section of steady sixteenth-note double bass under snare and cymbal accents. It is one of the ultimate reading challenges in rock drumming.

What’s in the The Dance Of Eternity drum sheet music

This The Dance Of Eternity drum sheet music writes every time signature where it happens, so you never have to guess the bar length. Sections are labelled (intro, A, B, C and onwards), open and closed hi-hat notes are marked with “o” and “+”, and tuplets are clearly bracketed.

Looking for The Dance Of Eternity drum tabs? This is full drum notation on a five-line staff, so it shows the exact rhythm of every note – something tabs can’t do.

Song facts

• Artist: Dream Theater
• Album: Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory (1999)
• Drummer: Mike Portnoy
• Tempo: changes constantly
• Time signature: constantly changing (4/4, 7/8, 3/4, 6/8, 3/8, 7/16, 2/4, 5/8, 5/4 and more on the first page alone)
• Style: Progressive metal instrumental
• Level: Expert

What you get

• The full song, transcribed note-for-note from the original recording
• Clearly labelled song sections
• Professionally engraved, print-ready PDF
• Instant download after purchase

How to practise The Dance Of Eternity on drums

Once you have the The Dance Of Eternity drum sheet music, here is a good way to learn it:

1. Learn it in small blocks. Take two or three bars at a time, and do not move on until the meter changes feel natural.
2. Count in eighth and sixteenth notes. Many bars are odd groupings of 8ths or 16ths (7/8, 7/16, 5/8). Count the small note values rather than beats.
3. Use a metronome on the smallest note value. Set the click to eighth notes for the odd-meter sections so the pulse never changes.
4. Practise the double-bass section separately. Keep the sixteenth notes even with both feet before adding the hands on top.
5. Link the sections. Once each block is solid, join them two at a time until you can play the whole piece.

Reading tips for this chart

• Open and closed hi-hat are marked with a small “o” (open) and “+” (closed) above the note. The timing of the openings is part of the groove, so follow them closely.
• Time-signature changes are written exactly where they happen. When a new one appears, count the smallest note value (eighths or sixteenths) until it feels natural.
• Grace notes and flams are the small notes just before the main note. Play them softly and slightly ahead of the beat.
• Section labels in boxes (such as I, V1, C1) name each part of the song – intro, verse, chorus and so on – so you can find your place quickly.

Who is it for?

This The Dance Of Eternity drum sheet music is for advanced and expert drummers, progressive metal fans and anyone who wants to improve their reading of odd meters. If you can play this piece, very few charts will scare you.

More Dream Theater drum sheet music

You might also like Overture 1928, Pull Me Under, The Ytse Jam, and the rest of the Dream Theater drum sheet music collection.

Frequently asked questions

Is this The Dance Of Eternity drum sheet music the full song?

Yes. It is the complete drum part, transcribed note-for-note from the original recording on Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory. Nothing is simplified.

Is it a drum tab or real notation?

It is real drum notation, the standard way drum parts are written. If you are used to tabs, it is worth the switch – notation shows rhythm exactly, which tabs can’t.

How do I get the PDF after I buy?

The download link appears straight after checkout and is also sent to your email. You can print the PDF or read it on a tablet.

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