Download the Full Sheet Music

About the band:

The members of Silverchair were in their early teens when their first single, Tomorrow, catapulted them to international stardom. The young Australians released 2 phenomenally successful albums and supported The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and The Ramones while still attending high school. Neon Ballroom represents the beginning of a shift away from the straight grunge rock that they had become famous for, eliciting a more mature, eclectic sound.

 Ben Gillies drum set:

During the period when Neon Ballroom was recorded, drummer, Ben Gillies used a John Bonham style set up including one large mounted tom and two large floor toms (16″ and 18″).

 Intro and verses:

The song is introduced with a cycling 2 measure riff played by the bass guitarist and drummer. The rhythm played between the bass and snare drums is reminiscent of Queen’s classic hit We Will Rock You. At the end of the second measure, Gillies creates chords by playing toms 1 & 2 and toms 2 & 3 in unison (together).

 Pre choruses:

The first pre chorus is fleeting. The second pre chorus repeats a 2 measure, syncopated phrase and ends with another 4 beats of silence.

 Chorus:

The chorus section settles into a relaxed 2 measure cycling drum feel. The singer, Daniel Johns, alternates the lines “Steam will rise” and “Esteem will rise”.

Guitar solo: 

For the guitar solo, the drummer maintains the 2 measure rhythm from the chorus and plays the hi hats in a half open, ‘loose’ position. In the last measure, the bass drum line leads into the drum solo.

Drum solo:

The drum solo is played over a steady quaver pulse played by the guitar, bass guitar and bass drum. This pulse is heard by itself in every second measure. In the first, second and fourth lines we hear variations on a rhythmic theme. In the third line, the even subdivision mould is broken with the toms being played in triplets over eighth notes (3 evenly spaced notes with the hands over 2 on the bass drum).

Vamp:

Gillies generally plays the chords on the toms with an even dynamic level between the hands, however for some of the chords he emphasises the higher or lower pitched tom. By employing this technique he broadens the sonic palette of the standard 3 tom set up.

Drum solo 2:

The beat from the vamp section is played on the left hand measures. The right hand measures are filled with various sixteenth notes patterns played around the drums using combinations of single and double strokes.

Fade out:

The drums fade out over 4 measures, leaving eerie voices to finish the song.