Add These to Improve your Songs - Drum Fills 101:

One thing I consistently notice in newer producers' music vs pro producers' music is a lack of drum fills. 

Why add drum fills? Well, they break up a backbeat which can get a little boring if it doesn't change for 3 minutes! It also helps build energy, tension and excitement. They alert the listener that is something is about to happen.

When should you use them? In my opinion there’s 2 main times to use fills

:1) Transitions - when you go into a new section like from the verse to chorus or a chorus to a verse.

2) Mini fills - Not as dramatic as a transition fill, they are usually shorter and found halfway through a section. EG: after 8 bars through a 16 bar verse. 

In my latest Youtube video I take a look at the 6 levels of Drum Fills but here's a summary: 

Level 1 -  One drum - for a simple fill. The snare is the common choice for this. Just a 1-2 (1/8th notes) or 1-2-3-4 (1/16th notes) here is usually sufficient. Good for mini fills. 

Level 2 - Two Drums - EG: going from the Snare to High Tom. Again 1/8th or 1/16th notes work nicely here.

Level 3 - Around the Kit - Use a full bar for the fill and hit each of the 4 drums (snare, high, mid/low, floor tom). 4 x 1/16th quavers on each drum. Good for transitions.

Level 4 - Triplets - play in groups of 3 rather than 2s and 4s. You can change your DAW grid to 1/12 rather than 1/16 to make it easier to program. 

Level 5 - Pedals - Adding a kick drum or hi-hat foot pedal to each quarter note adds emphasis. You can also replace snare/tom hits with kick drum hits.

Level 6 - Mix these together - and also mix up different note values (1/4ths, 1/8ths, 1/16ths) on different drums. 

PS: If you want to improve your music over the next couple of months - I've got space to take on a couple extra students for online production lessons. 

Email Adam@ammusic.co.uk if you're interested in learning more!