Learn to playSo Far So Fakeas made famous by Pierce The Veilon drums
Hold the groove through time changes, add toms and offbeat kicks, then master 16th-note fills with independent kick and snare to unlock the song's full feel.
With our step-by-step drum lesson you can recreate the beat behind So Far So Fake. We’ve broken down the main sections of the song and will take you through each part beat by beat, with video demonstrations.
So Far So Fake
Drums Tutorial - Step by Step
Intro
After the guitar intro, pick up on beat 3-&. Use 2 hands on the snare in bar 6, and finish with a fill between kick and snare.
Chorus
Move to the ride for the chorus, filling around the kit in bar 4. Stop on the snare in bar 8.
Bridge
Fill the 1/16 notes on the hi-hat with your other hand, watching for the variations. Add the tom double stops halfway through this section.
Bridge (Pt. 2)
Play snare and crash on beat 3, then move to tom hits with the guitar riff. Watch for the hi-hat and snare fills through this section.
Chorus 2
After the break, fill into a buildup on snare, Then bring back the chorus groove. Watch for the snare fill and stop on beat 1 of the last bar.
Outro
Return to the half-time bridge groove. Play a long fill over the barline in bar 4. Finish with a triplet fill on the snare.
Combine and play
Now combine the sections to play the full arrangement.
Learn to play
So Far So Fake
with Melodics
Behind the track
So Far So Fake
by Pierce The Veil
Pierce the Veil recorded The Jaws Of Life in New Orleans, a deliberate left turn for a band built in San Diego. 'So Far So Fake' was the album's fourth single, released to a modest reception before TikTok picked it up years later and changed the story entirely. It became the first Pierce the Veil song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, and landed them a second number one on the Alternative Charts in the same run. The intro riff's dotted eighth-note pattern is what makes the opening feel slightly unmoored - it nudges your sense of the downbeat just enough that when the drums finally arrive and lock into a straight eighth-note groove, the resolution hits harder than it has any right to.
Tips for learning So Far So Fake on drums
Tip 1: Slow it down
Break it down: Tackle each section of So Far So Fake individually for precision mastery. With Melodics, you can slow the pace of the song and work up to full speed.
Tip 2: Review your performance
Identify growth areas: Listen to playback of your performance to learn where you need to develop your timing, technique & rhythm. Melodics provides instant feedback on your performance.
Tip 3: Practice makes perfect
Stay consistent: With regular, focused practice you'll see rapid progress when learning the song. Even a short session each day will make a huge difference.
- Get access to 100s of interactive lessons and popular songs
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FAQs
- So Far So Fake is an advanced level song. Fortunately, there are beginner versions of the song available on Melodics to check out!
- You will need advanced syncopation and dexterity around the kit.
- 126 bpm
- 4/4
- D minor
- New songs are released every week on Melodics! And we love to take requests - the best place for this is within our Discord community where you can also connect with other music learners around the world. Check out https://melodics.com/info/community.