Workshop: Unleash Your Creative Fill Potential

Part 2: Predetermined Drums

Once you become comfortable improvising the drums you hit, it’s time to start improvising the rhythm. Easier said than done, right? To ease your way into it, decide which drums you’re going to hit before attempting the fill. There are many different rhythms that can be used, creating unique sounds while maintaining the same basic drum pattern.

In Ex. 16, all of count 1 is on the snare drum, count 2 is on the high tom, count 3 is on the medium tom, and count 4 is on the low tom. For all of count 1, improvise a rhythm on the snare drum. For all of count 2, improvise a rhythm on the high tom, and so on.*

*Tip: The counts below the measures indicate which count to switch drums on.

Examples 17 and 18 show some possibilities you might play. Play a different rhythm each time through the fill, as this will force you to be creative and in the moment.

Play this drum pattern using more advanced rhythms. Try throwing in some rests and flams.

Exs. 20 and 21 show some possibilities you might play.

Here are two more patterns for you to explore.

Expand your drum patterns to take up more or less than one count. In Ex. 4, the snare is played for all of count 1 and half of count 2. The high tom is played for the second half of count 2.

Examples 25 and 26 show some possibilities you might play. Again, force yourself to play different rhythms each time through the fill pattern. You will notice it gradually becomes easier to improvise rhythms.

Practice these more advanced patterns incorporating the bass drum. Remember that the counts under the measures indicate when to switch drums. Be creative!

Part 3: Improvise It All!

Now that you’ve practiced and developed confidence in improvising the drums you hit (part 1) and improvising the rhythm (part 2), it’s time to improvise it all. Improvise both the drums you hit and the rhythms you play. Remember to practice full measure fills and partial-measure fills, playing them along with drumbeats. Try to play a different fill each time, as this will force you to be creative and on-the-spot. In no time, you will have unleashed your drum fill potential.