Every Third Sixteenth
Each of the fills below share a basic, accented sixteenth-note pattern. Accents are played every third sixteenth note. In fills 1 through 3, the accents begin on beat 1. Fills 4 through 6 begin the accent pattern on the "&" of beat 1.
Identifying The Voices In Your Groove
The lesson takes a step back from the traditional format and explores the intricacies of music notation strategies. Learn the most preferred voice grouping techniques for the cleanest and clearest music notation.
Intro to All Along The Watchtower
This lesson explores the pickup and drum fills in the intro of All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix as well as some fun variations for around the kit.
Tom Groove – Should I Stay or Should I Go
This lesson explores the tom groove used in Should I Stay or Should I Go, including some ideas for re-orchestrating the rhythm around the cymbals.
Improvisation Workshop: Drum Fills
Do you have trouble making up drum fills on the fly? If so, you're not alone. A lot of drummers express difficulties and even anxiety when asked to do so. This lesson provides a template for practicing and developing your improvisational skills.
Hi-Hat Fills? Why Not!?
This lesson strays from the common application of drum fills where toms and snare strokes are at the heart of the fill. By placing an emphasis on the hi-hat, a more subtle (but often effective) drum fill can emerge.
Extending the Drum Fill Ideas
Learn a simple technique to add some flare and pop to the end of your drum fills. This lesson explores 8 examples to help you get started with the technique.
Drum Fill and Beat Techniques from Run
This drum lesson explores a couple of drum fills and grooves from the song Run by Foo Fighters, as well as some ways to incorporate the techniques into your own playing.
Breaking Out of the 4/4 Rut
This lesson explores a slick alternative to playing in 4/4. The grooves are designed to be very similar to 4/4, but because they're actually in 7/8, the last would-be 8th note is missing. Stepping outside of your comfort zone is a great exercise to keep your drumming mind fresh.
Twelve Fun Drum Fills to Play Today
Each set of four drum fills below share the same rhythms but re-orchestrate those rhythms around the toms and crashes.
“AH”nother Take on Drum Fills
Drummers are often locked into the technique of playing a crash cymbal on beat 1 when coming out of a drum fill. There's a good reason for that: it works well in a lot of situations.
The Easy Way to Get the Most Out of Your Beats
We've all spent time learning new drum beats, and that's great. However, we often learn a groove and then move onto the next without really getting the most out of the pattern.
The Power of Dynamics
The term dynamics refers to how loudly or softly the music is played. Without changes in dynamics, music can sound dry or even robotic. This lesson is designed to show how greatly dynamics effect the feel of a drum beat.
Cross-Over Believer Groove
This lesson walks through the creative cross-over grooves used in the 2nd verse and pre-chorus of the song Believer by Imagine Dragons.
Hard Times – Tom Groove
This lesson explores the main tom groove used in the song Hard Times by Paramore and introduces an off-beat hi-hat foot technique.
