DRUMMER CAFE

Tony

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Art is the expression of the self.

Re:Good Fills Variations

« Reply #20 on: October 16, 2002, 09:19 AM »

Quote from: sidereal on October 12, 2002, 03:39 PM

I got into Andy as a Pink Floyd fan. His playing on "Two Suns In The Sunset" on The Final Cut just knocked me out. The groove is so sweet, the dynamics... not to mention the weird arrangement of the song. I'm sure Nick Mason was scratching his head not getting it and Roger Waters had to bring in Andy!

After that, he played on Roger's "Pro's And Cons of Hitchhiking" which (if you can get through the album without slashing your wrists Wink

) I highly recommend for brilliant tom playing.

Side, did you know that Andy and Jeff Porcaro are both uncredited players on the Wall? I'm a huge Floyd fan, and The Final Cut is my wife's personal favorite. I read "A Saucerful of Secrets" not too long ago and was amazed to find out the behind the scenes turmoil that Waters had with the rest of the band surrounding "The Wall" and "The Final Cut". He replaced Nick Mason and Rick Wright on almost everything on FC and about half the drum tracks on The Wall were done by JP and AN. Bizarre!


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The techniques, though they play an important role in the early stage, should not be too restrictive, complex or mechanical. If we cling to them, we will become bound by their limitation. Any technique, however worthy and desirable, becomes a disease when the mind is obsessed with it.

MVanDoren1

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Re:Good Fills Variations

« Reply #21 on: October 16, 2002, 03:00 PM »

Nan-

Once you've equipped yourself with some or all of this great stuff your getting try this.
Identify in a particular song that you want to improve the music leading up to the point you want to place a fill. If you've got a recording great but just playing it over in your mind will work to. Imagine to get into the feel of the song, and let your mind come up with a fill or two, etc. I'm all the time hearing fills that would sound and fit well within songs, I don't always work them out, but that could be another starting point. Imagine the sound of the fill you wish to achieve then try working it out. Eventually you'll do this as you play as one mentioned before- you'll be playing and depending on the mood of the song, the band, the audience, all that "FEEL" can lend itself to dictating some great spur of the moment fills. Maybe fast and furious, maybe stay in the pocket, maybe some real expressive, full but simple fills as in some power ballads POWER UNDER SUBMISSION- you could do more but just like a well trained Arabian stallion you keep yourself in control with the spirit or feel of the song.


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Jim Evans

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Re:Good Fills Variations

« Reply #22 on: October 17, 2002, 11:57 AM »

There is definately some excelent advice here. The most important thing in my opinion is feel of the song. A powerful up tempo rock tune or ballad might call for a big fill around the toms (I.e. Anything by Rush or something like Journey's Separate Ways). A song that is straight forward and more about keeping time (Steely Dan) might call for a short 2 count fill on the snare alone. As mentioned earlier in this thread, listen to what the song is dictating. You definately should focus on developing your hands and feet though so you won't have to think about how to play what you hear. And again listen to as much diferent music as you can. I hope this helps, and definately don't get discouraged. those fills will work out with time and a lot of practice.


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Daddy0

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Joined a non-conformists club but I didn't fit in.

Re:Good Fills Variations

« Reply #23 on: October 17, 2002, 09:50 PM »

Quote from: mark563 on October 11, 2002, 10:07 PM

I listen to a lot of folk music from the middle east and asia. if I need some variety in my playing, ill try and adapt some of that to kit.

One drummer that we could all learn a riff or two from is Trilok Gurtu. He is from Bombay, India and has very unique and aggressive style when playing so-called Western music. Listen to him on John McLaughlin's "Live at the Royal Festival Hall" or "Que Alegra" -- most impressive!


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nanboylim

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Re:Good Fills Variations

« Reply #24 on: October 17, 2002, 11:20 PM »

Quote from: MVanDoren1 on October 16, 2002, 03:00 PM

to jaedrum & MVanDoren1, THANK YOU for sharing your views as well. Blessings.

Nan


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irishthump

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I love the Drummer Cafe!

Re:Good Fills Variations

« Reply #25 on: October 21, 2002, 07:20 AM »

Less is more!!!!!!
Keeping it simple can be more effective than blinding 32nd note fills around 7 toms!
Also, it's important that the fill fits the style and groove of the music, look to the phrasing of the song and the other instruments in the band for ideas.


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"Free your mind, and your sticks will follow....."

Scheming Demon

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Re:Good Fills Variations

« Reply #26 on: October 21, 2002, 05:08 PM »

The way I would approach it is to try to build up a library of types or styles of fills. From simple snare and kick playing off each other to blinding speed over 10 toms.

Once you have a vocabulary of fills to choose from it will become easier to determine what type of fill the song seems to call for.

In the very beginning stages you will need to stress the mechanics, just getting used to what it feels like to actually play the thing and build up some muscles and muscle memory. Then you can concentrate on the "feel" aspect. IMO you need both, mechanics and feel.

A teacher can be a great resource or as others suggested, listen to music and try to copy what you hear. Even if you can't play exactly what you hear just trying will make you improve.

Once you've learned a few "styles" of fills the variations within are endless.