**Fill Problem**

[Nik276]

Alright, so it`s been about 2 years since I`ve started drumming. I can see that I have came pretty far but I`ve always had problems with fills. I have preset fills that I can use when I`m having trouble coming up with them but I`m getting bored with them.
What do you guys do to come up with new fills?

Also, I have a hard time coming up with fills when I`m improvising. I want to be able to play fills that just flow out of my body without even thinking. How do I do this?
Are there exercises I can do that will help me get more creative?

Thanks

[Larrysperf]

2 words Rudaments and Paradittles LLRRLLR over and over is a fill and so on. Practice rudiments and fills come easy. IMHO

[xweasel]

I had the same problem as you. I'm sure I also made a thread about it!

Basically what I did is listen to heaps of fills in songs and things, practice them and mix certain ones together.

[yohin]

2 words Rudaments and Paradittles LLRRLLR over and over is a fill and so on. Practice rudiments and fills come easy. IMHO

Agreed. Learning more rudiments will help you come up with lots of fills.

[gonefishin]

2 words Rudaments and Paradittles LLRRLLR over and over is a fill and so on. Practice rudiments and fills come easy. IMHO

Im gonna agree with Larry and also add.....practice , poractice , practice , the more you play the easier things get .

[Nik276]

alright
thanks guys

[Owens]

I like to just sit their and experiment with different things. If you want a really interesting fill that is fast, try this:
sss-BBB-ttt-BBB-TTT-B

t=high tom
T=low tom
B=bass
s=snare

[fumbled time]

More to the point is that when you do your rudaments(practicing on the snare for example) spread them out around the kit. When I first started to practice them I was just using my snare or a tom, I soon realized that alot of fills where just the same rudament patterens moved around the kit. As long as you are on the right stroke(R or L) it doesn't matter where its applyed as long as its Its turn to be played. You can even use your feet to fill in these spaces either as rudaments themselves or as a whole with the ones you are playing with the sticks. Soon you will be JUST FILLIN UP SPACE!

[Nik276]

Thanks guys
I can always count on you guys when I`m in a drum slump

[AndyC]

Try taking off a tom or two. Get down to a 4 piece or less. That way you'll have to find rhythmic variations rather than just tonal ones.

Cheers

Andy

[scott757]

Try taking off a tom or two. Get down to a 4 piece or less. That way you'll have to find rhythmic variations rather than just tonal ones.

Cheers

Andy

If you are playing on a big kit then this is a good suggestion.

[Andreeew]

try doing accents

[Nik276]

Try taking off a tom or two. Get down to a 4 piece or less. That way you'll have to find rhythmic variations rather than just tonal ones.

Cheers

Andy

Thanks
I`ll try that

[oaktree137]

i agree with the above posts: accents/dynamics and rudiments (singles, doubles, paradiddles, flams are the ones i use most) do help a lot. Also learning things such as bonham triplets help (i use them quite a bit) and also don't just play on the toms/snare/bass but on the cymbals. incorporate hihat (open or closed), crash, and even ride into some of your fills. The possibilities are endless !

hope i helped

[oaktree137]

Oh and also make sure to vary your fills by using different note combinations- in fills a lot of the time I do sort of swung notes between the toms. Be familiar with all the 4th, 8th, 16th, 32nd notes etc. too as well as triplets

thats what i think

[El-kevo the drumtech]

listen to lots of boston and journey...

also get out of your normal realm of music. If you normally like the Vandals, listen to frank sinatra, if you like metal listen to jazz or the backstreet boys...cheesy but it gets you some new ideas