Unique Crash Placements in “Down-the-Tom” Fills
Accenting the down-the-tom fills with crashes brings a new flavor to the classic fill technique. These four drum fill examples feature the bass drum along with each crash. The audio example plays each fill one time before moving on.
Stickin’ with the Bass – Drum Beats
Enjoy 8 grooves that feature an additional hi-hat stroke each time the bass drum is played on an "e" or "ah."
Four-on-the-Floor Drum Beats
The four-on-the-floor phrase is a catchy way to describe drum beats that feature the bass drum on beats 1, 2, 3, and 4. This bass pattern is often used in dance music, pop, rock, funk, and any song that benefits from a driving feel.
Non-Standard Open Hats
The open hi-hat technique is often used to create an off-beat feel or to accentuate a particular stroke or two. These 8 groove examples incorporate 4 unique open hat patterns that instead create a rhythmic layer on top of the grooves.
Six Linear “Skeleton” Drum Fills
The term "Skeleton," in drumming, refers to drum parts that use only the snare, bass, and cymbals. In other words, no toms or other drums are used. If you see a drum kit with only snare, bass, and cymbals, you could call it a skeleton setup (or skeleton kit).
Six Choice Shuffle Drum Beats & Fills
Six shuffle beats and fills to satisfy any of your shuffle urges. The examples are arranged from simplest to most complex. Feel free to interchange the drum beats, and explore how each beat brings a different transition and feel to the drum fill.
Six Go-Gos
These Go-Go beats are arranged from starter level to more advanced arrangements. Beats 5 and 6 incorporate eighth notes with the hi-hat foot.
The Way of the Hi-Hat
Hi-hat patterns and articulations can change the feel of a groove entirely. Because of this, it's important to recognize the feel your hi-hat patterns create — and to use that knowledge to choose hi-hat patterns that match the feel of the song.
A Sheetful of Swing Fills
Enjoy a handful of 7 drum fills that can be used along with any swing situation.
Have a 6/8 Weekend
Enjoy four patterns in 6/8 along with some drum fill ideas. The first two drum fills are straightforward while the third and fourth explore syncopated crashes.
Crash Fills
Drum fills are often comprised of a lot of drums, but adding some crashes into your drum fills can produce a great result.
Paradiddle Breakdown
The humble paradiddle's combination of single and double strokes lends itself to being accented on the beat. The double strokes allows a split-seconds extra time for the other stick to prepare for an accented stroke. Stick height is the most important element in playing accented sticking patterns with the right dynamics.
Moving Hands – Simple Drum Fill Technique
The Moving Hands technique is a simple way to create a drum fill by playing the same drum beat while moving your hands around the toms.
Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison
"Oh, Pretty Woman" was Roy Orbison's top ranking hit-single, released in 1964.
Hi-Hat Techniques from Closer
Learn the main drum beat from the song Closer by The Chainsmokers.
