Drum "fills" : How much is too much ?

rickw · Post by **rickw** » Thursday May 01, 2008

As a guitar player/singer I really really rely on the drummer and bass player. If I can't feel their groove there's a good chance the folks "out there" aren't feeling it either. When I can lock into that groove I am the happiest person on the planet! And, to the topic, too many fills = no groove. And Clint, I miss playing with you man! Especially while we're coming close to the end of the last song of the night and you yell "NINE SLOW TWO!

CCdrums · Post by **CCdrums** » Friday May 02, 2008

rickw wrote:As a guitar player/singer I really really rely on the drummer and bass player. If I can't feel their groove there's a good chance the folks "out there" aren't feeling it either. When I can lock into that groove I am the happiest person on the planet! And, to the topic, too many fills = no groove. And Clint, I miss playing with you man! Especially while we're coming close to the end of the last song of the night and you yell "NINE SLOW TWO!

I miss playing with you as well man. I'm going to do some dates with Ricky, most notably Aug. 30th, maybe we can hook up somewhere along the line.

P MAC · Post by **P MAC** » Friday May 02, 2008

As a student of the bass, regarding fills, Ed McGuire once told me " wait till you can't stand it; then wait 2 more bars " Applies equally well to drums IMO. Not much else to say!
It is all about the groove!

ToonaRockGuy · Post by **ToonaRockGuy** » Friday May 02, 2008

I've pretty much been working steadily both in bands and subbing for bands since 1993 in this area due to having a solid pocket and rock-solid time. I don't get too flashy, I just have fun and try to play the song for what it is. I don't worry about if there are other drummers in the audience, since they are most likely better than me anyway. But I can't stand overplaying. You have to play for the song, not for yourself.

moxham123 · Post by **moxham123** » Friday May 02, 2008

My drummer and I both count measures and riffs as well as have a constant, steady groove. That permits the guitarist to do his thing; especially during solos since most guitar players don't count measures or riffs and play more from feel or solo structure and parts. Then, I provide subtle cues to the guys when something is to happen on the measure or riff prior to the change. We even play a song that has (2) 19 measure solos, which make for a strange count.

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Sunday May 04, 2008

I don't really think I can add anything here that hasn't already been said!

Colton · Post by **Colton** » Sunday May 04, 2008

RobTheDrummer wrote:I don't really think I can add anything here that hasn't already been said!

Space Potatoes.

That hasnt been said yet!

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Monday May 05, 2008

All good points from everyone, what iv'e done in the past is to only set up kick, snare, hat, ride, crash and get back to basics, i did this for 3 months one time and loved the simplicity of it. Making my fills into hat and snare variations to keep it subtle, i did this because i felt i was overplaying.
I noticed a lot of different sounds from the hat and snare alone i could use that i never knew were there before. I figured if i didnt take the toms away i would still use them, hows that for constraint...lol

Hah, Johhny thats the Bun kit! Bun also tought me how to smoke and play, another bad habit.

moxham123 · Post by **moxham123** » Monday May 05, 2008

Our drummer has 3 kits that he plays at different gigs. A 4 piece Premier kit from the 60's, a 5 piece Rogers kit from the 70's, and a 6 piece Pearl kit from the 90's. He likes to try to see what he can do with the different variations of drums and cymbals. It's amazing that he can get the same full sound from a 4 piece kit as a 6 piece kit just in the technique he uses.