DRUMS
GETTING OUT OF THE DRUM FILL RUT | Carl Albrecht
How do we keep expanding our drum fill library and not just rely on the same old ideas ? There has to be a way to use new and innovative concepts , and yet maintain that same “ launching ” affect that the standard fills create . Well , take heart my drumming comrades , there is a way ; and I ’ m going to show you . Come follow me into the world of drum fill metamorphosis . Keep in mind the goal of our musical lives is to make the leaders happy . So I ’ ll always play whatever inspires them with as much passion as I can ; even if I have played it a thousand times before .
1 . I ALWAYS RECOMMEND BUILDING UPON WHAT YOU ALREADY PLAY . Take a typical idea you already play a lot . Something like a straightforward snare fill just playing 16 th notes - 3 e & ah 4 e & ah . Try playing 4 bar grooves playing this fill every 4th bar and see how many different things you can do with it . Start on the snare … then on the toms … then any combination of those . Also try starting a fill on the kick or hi-hat . Maybe even start on a crash and then move around the snare to the toms . You are only limited by your imagination AND your ability to coordinate a certain move . Don ’ t feel limited to just a single stroke roll , hand-to-hand pattern . Mix it up with doubles and paradiddles too . That ’ s when you discover how comfortable you are with your drum kit .
2 . USE ACCENTS TO CHANGE THE SOUND OF A DRUM FILL . Start with the typical accent on every quarter note , and then try accenting all the “&’ s ” of the count . Then shift it to any of the notes within the phrase of the fill . Be sure to try double accents as well . That would be the “ 1 e ” of the phrase or the “ ah 2 ” or any combination you ’ d like . Again , the whole idea here is to create new ideas you have not tried before . Another option for using accents is to continually play a pattern on one drum , like the snare and then hitting the accents on other drums or cymbals . Even adding kick drum hits with the accents as well . Practicing old fills in this sort of mechanical way will open new ways of thinking about playing classic fills .
3 . START A FILL ON DIFFERENT COUNTS OF A MEASURE . You don ’ t have to play the same rhythm when you do this , but you can if you ’ d like . Start by playing a four bar groove and then in the last bar start a fill on the third count … or the two , or the four , or even the one . Whatever feels the most natural . The next time you come around start the fill on the “&” of that count … next time on the “ e ” and so on . You ’ ll be surprised with how starting fills in different places in the bar forces you to play a fill differently . It may even reveal to you that you are not comfortable with certain starting points in a bar , because it throws off your coordination . This is an awesome exercise for creating fills you never thought of before .
4 . PLAY THE FILL “ OVER THE BAR LINE .”
This means that as you finish the phrase you don ’ t hit the downbeat or the “ 1 ” of the next bar , but you crash or complete the fill anywhere after that . It could be hitting the “&” of 1 , or the 2 nd count , or any part of the bar you want . Just don ’ t hit the downbeat . The trick with this kind of fill , or any of them for that matter , is to maintain the feel of the groove . If you listen to the song “ Hosanna ” by Paul Baloche you ’ ll notice I did this kind of thing several times throughout the song .
These methods of creating new fills can be done without getting into the method books . Although I recommend becoming a good reader , learning to create new ideas can happen just as easily by using your ear and these techniques . As you expand your “ tool box ” of drumming ideas be sure to remember to always honor the music and the people you play for . Sometimes the best drum groove or fill idea is still the simplest thing you can play .
Blessings on the journey ,
Carl Albrecht Professional drummer for 30 + years , playing with Paul Baloche , Don Moen , Ron Kenoly , Abe Laboriel , LeAnn Rimes and others . He ’ s also a clinician , author & pastor . Contact Carl for coaching , online lessons , producing , or sessions . I ’ m still growing too .. www . CarlAlbrecht . com LMAlbrecht @ aol . com