DRUMMER’SPERSPECTIVE
GET OUT OF THE DRUM FILL RUT!
Oh NO, not the same fill again!! **On the snare
with doubles and paradiddles too. That’s when
reveal to you that you are not comfortable with
3 e & ah 4 e & ah GO!!** Or the infamous “Pat
you discover how comfortable you are with
certain starting points in a bar because it throws
Boone, Debbie Boone fill” - 3 & 4 e &. Yes,
your drum kit. Also, doing this exercise forces
off your coordination. This is an awesome
we’ve all played these and other classic fills a
you to arrange your ideas because you don’t
exercise for creating fills you never thought of
thousand times. I actually like them a lot. And
have to create new rhythms. This is the classic
before. Using the four bar phrase allows you
so do artists and the listeners as well. Simple
approach of “variations on a theme.”
to lock into a groove feel first. Remember, all
drum fills launch the band into new sections of
drum fills have to fit musically within a certain
a song with boldness and confidence. But how
As you work on new ideas be sure to also try
feel. Just practicing patterns without a groove
do we keep expanding our drum fill library and
dynamic changes in your fills as well as shifting
reference is only half of the job of learning
not just rely on the same old ideas? There has to
the placement of accents. Start a fill as softly
new fills. The goal is to make them musically
be a way to use new and innovative concepts,
as you can and then build it to your loudest
applicable. If something doesn’t work with
and yet maintain that same “launching” effect
volume; or try going from loud to soft. Try also
the music don’t just throw it in there because
that the standard fills create. Well, take heart
playing at all the same level.
you’ve been working on it.
I’m going to show you. Come follow me into the
2. Doing accents also gives you a huge amount
4. One of my favorite drum fill ideas is to play
world of drum fill metamorphosis.
of options to the sound of a drum fill. Start with
them “over the bar line.” This means that as you
the typical accent on every quarter note, and
finish the phrase you don’t hit the downbeat
Keep in mind that the goal of our musical lives
then try accenting all the “&’s” of the count.
or the “1” of the next bar, but you crash or
is to make the leaders happy. So I’ll always play
Then shift it to any of the notes within the
complete the fill anywhere after that. It could
whatever inspires them with as much passion
phrase of the fill. Be sure to try double accents
be hitting the “&” of 1, or the 2nd count, or any
as I can; even if I have played it a thousand
as well. That would be the “1 e” of the phrase,
part of the bar you want. Just don’t hit the
times before. But I also strive to expand my
or the “ah 2”, or any combination you’d like.
downbeat. The trick with this kind of fill, or any
arsenal of drumming ideas so that when the
Again, the whole idea here is to create new
of them for that matter, is to maintain the feel of
time is right I can also deliver something fresh
ideas you have not tried before. Another option
the groove. If you listen to the song “Hosanna”
and unexpected.
for using accents is to continually play a pattern
by Paul Baloche you’ll notice I did this kind of
on one drum, like the snare, and then hitting
thing several times throughout the song.
my drumming comrades, there is a way; and
1. I always recommend building upon what
the accents on other drums or cymbals. Even
you already play. I would not just try to pull
adding kick drum hits with the accents as well.
5. As a final exercise in drum fill development try
something out of thin air. There should always
Practicing old fills in this sort of mechanical
to play fills that you create by copying melodic
be a foundation to build on. Of course, this is
way will open new ways of thinking about
phrases that you hear. It could be a melody of a
my method right now, and I’m always trying out
playing these classic fills. You can apply these
song, or a guitar line that you hear. It might be a
new ideas. But over all it seems this approach
techniques to any pattern you can think of.
line that you hear a bass player do.
works well.
Accents change everything! It’s like spice in
your soup.
continued on 47
Take a typical idea you already play a lot.
Something like the first thing I mentioned – the
3. Another great exercise for creating new
snare fill on 3 e & ah 4 e & ah. Try playing 4 bar
drum ideas is to start a fill on different counts
grooves playing this fill every 4th bar and see
of a measure. You don’t have to play the same
how many different things you can do with it.
rhythm when you do this, but you can if you’d
Start on the snare… then on the toms… then
like. Start by playing a four bar groove and then
any combination of those. Also try starting a fill
in the last bar start a fill on the third count… or
on the kick or hi-hat. Maybe even start on a
the two, or the four, or even the one. Whatever
crash and then move around the snare to the
feels natural. The next time you come around
toms. Etc. Etc. You are only limited by your
start the fill on the “&” of that count… next time
imagination AND your ability to coordinate a
on the “e”, and so on. You’ll be surprised with
certain move. Don’t feel limited to just a single
how starting fills in different places in the bar
stroke roll or hand-to-hand pattern. Mix it up
forces you to play a fill differently. It may even
10
May June 2016
WorshipMusician.com
CARL ALBRECHT
Professional drummer for
over 30 years, playing with
Paul Baloche, Don Moen,
Ron Kenoly, Abe Laboriel &
Friends, LeAnn Rimes and
many others. He’s also a
clinician, author & pastor.
www.CarlAblrecht.com