Octavarium

Transcribed by Evan Jaslow Dream Theater

Mike Portnoy

I. Someone Like Him (Free time for 3:48)

*
q = 661



3:49

(keyboard pickup)

5






3

10

14

25

29


I never wanted to become . . . pp mp pp I was sure

37


I knew that . . . Far beyond what I could see . . . Never be someone like

Octavarium OnlineDrummer.com
2005 *Crashes and rolls may be on any combination of two cymbals
2
46 mf



him . . .
48


mp So many years have passed . . .

52

56


It's won-
60


derful . . .
64


Far beyond what I could see . . .
q = 83
68 p mf



accel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

*
70


As far as I could tell . . .
74

78

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*Optional: upbeat ghost notes on the hi-hats 2005
 3
81



So suddenly . . . Rall . . . . . . . . .
II. Medicate (Awakening)
q = 128
86
sim.*



6
90

94

98





102





A doctor sitting next to me . . .
106

110





114




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*throughout this movement; from measures 86-113 and 146-165
2005
4
118



For thirty years where have I been . . .

122







126

pp mf
130





Medicate me . . .

134

138

142

146









6
150





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 154
5



A higher dosage he prescribes . . .

158
6

162

166 6 6
6

170




I feel the relapse . . .

174

178




3

182






Medicate me . . .

186









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2005
6

190



3
194



q = 115
198






3

202



3

206



210

214






218

222

224

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 226 (228) 7

231



234



3 3
238


3 3 3 3
2 2
242



3 3 3 3 3 4 4
III. Full Circle
e = 248

246



250



254


Sailing on the seven seas . . .

258


Jack the Ripper . . .
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8
262



Lucy in the Sky with Diamond . . .

266



Day for nightmare . . .

270


Running forward, falling back . . .

274

278

282

286 (290) 1. 2.



294


Flying off a handle . . .

298

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 9
302







Messiah . . .

306







3

310


Running forward, falling back . . .

314

318

322

326

330



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2005
10
334

338

341 (345) 1. 2.

349

353

357

361

364

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 11
372

376

380

384

388

392

396

400





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2005
12
404

408

410



417



418

422

425

430

434

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 437
6
13

441

443

447




IV. Intervals
450

454







458 (462)



1. Root . . .
2. Second . . .

466



Third . . .
470



Fourth . . . 3 3 3 3
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14
474


Fifth . . . 3 3 3 3
478



Sixth . . . 3 3 3 3
482




Seventh . . . 3 3 3 3

486


Octave . . . 3 3 3 3
490



Trapped inside this Octavarium . . .
494



q = 66 new tempo
498
Roll on any cymbal or combination of cymbals

3






keyboard enters
orchestra enters at new tempo
V. Razor's Edge
503




506


510

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 15
513



We move in circles . . .

516




519



In perfect span . . .
6 6
522


3

524




3

526

529



530


3

533


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2005
16
534

537 6 6


3

538






542 6 6

3
6 6
545 6 6




3 3

548


Rit --------------------------------------------------------
q = 56

550



6
Loose Time 3

554
3

560

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 NOTATION KEY
17


Trash Crash China Splash Crash 2 Stax Crash 1

Hi-hat (closed) Hi-hat (loose) Hi-hat (open)

Ride Bell of Ride Tamborine (Mounted)

Highest Tom/Octoban High Tom Medium Tom

Snare (main) Snare (second if available) Medium-Low Tom

Floor Tom 1 Floor Tom 2 Kick Drum (primary) Kick Drum (secondary)

Notes:

In all hi-hat notation, only the first note in each change (between closed, loose, and open) is marked.
Keep the hi-hat at that style until written otherwise.

The hollow diamond used to indicate the bell of the ride can also be used on any other cymbal to denote
its bell.

Cymbals are notated somewhat loosely; as a general rule, I did try to be accurate. However, in many
instances, Portnoy tends to gravitate towards hitting relatively random cymbals (example: measures 270-285).
So, the notation does not have to expressly followed in order to recreate the general effect. Be creative!

The second snare is entirely optional.

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2005