Octavarium

Transcribed by Evan Jaslow

Dream Theater
Mike Portnoy

I. Someone Like Him

(Free time for 3:48)

q = 661
3:49

(keyboard pickup)

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 . . .

Octavarium
2005

Never be someone like

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*Crashes and rolls may be on any combination of two cymbals

46

mf

him . . .

48

52

56

mp So many years have passed . . .

It's won-

60

derful . . .

64

Far beyond what I could see . . .

p

68

mf

q = 83

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

70

As far as I could tell . . .

74

78

Octavarium

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*Optional: upbeat ghost notes on the hi-hats

2005

81

So suddenly . . .

Rall . . . . . . . . .

II. Medicate (Awakening)

q = 128

sim.*

90

94

86

102

98

A doctor sitting next to me . . .

110

114

106

Octavarium
2005

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

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118

For thirty years where have I been . . .

122

126

pp

mf

130

Medicate me . . .

134

138

142

146

150

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Octavarium
2005

154

A higher dosage he prescribes . . .

158

162

6
6

6

166

170

I feel the relapse . . .

174

178

182

Medicate me . . .

186

Octavarium
2005

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190

194

q = 115

198

206

210

214

218

202

222

224

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Octavarium
2005

226 (228)

231

234

238

242

3
2

III. Full Circle

e = 248

250

254


246

Sailing on the seven seas . . .

258

Jack the Ripper . . .

Octavarium
2005

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262

Lucy in the Sky with Diamond . . .

266

Day for nightmare . . .

270

Running forward, falling back . . .

274

278

282

2.


1.

286 (290)

294

Flying off a handle . . .

298

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Octavarium
2005

302

Messiah . . .

306

310

Running forward, falling back . . .

314

318

322

326

330

Octavarium
2005

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10
334

338

341 (345)

1.

2.

349

353

357

361

364

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Octavarium
2005

11

372

376

380

384

388

392

396

400

Octavarium
2005

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12
404

408

410

417

418

422

425

430

434

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Octavarium
2005

13


6

437

441

443

447

IV. Intervals

450

454

458 (462)

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

466

Third . . .

470

Fourth . . .
Octavarium
2005

3
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14
474

478

Fifth . . .

Sixth . . .
3
3
482

Seventh . . .

3
3

486

Octave . . .

Trapped inside this

Octavarium . . .
494

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

keyboard
enters

orchestra
enters at new tempo
V. Razor's Edge

503

490

506

510

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Octavarium
2005

15

513

We move in circles . . .

516

519

In perfect span . . .

522

524

526

529

530

533

Octavarium
2005

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16
534

6 6

537

538

6
6

542

6
6

545

548

q = 56
550

Rit --------------------------------------------------------

Loose Time

554

560

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Octavarium
2005

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)

Floor Tom 1

Snare (second if available)

Floor Tom 2

Medium-Low Tom

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.
Octavarium
2005

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