This excerpt is taken from the complete article that appears in the August 2016 issue, which is available here.

Basics

Fundamental Fills

Part 1: Solid 16th Notes

by Donny Gruendler

The abundant amount of educational material on the market can overwhelm many students and aspiring professional drummers. Due to limited practice schedules or performance opportunities, some drummers fail to see how to implement new or practical material into their daily routines. Worse, others neglect practical information altogether in hopes of becoming the next superhuman, speed-obsessed drummer or soloist.

This five-part series will help you develop modest, effective, and solid fills, and they’re built using single strokes, right-hand-lead phrases, and more complex patterns, such as six-stroke rolls. Let’s get started!

Solid Singles: 16th Notes

Many of today’s drummers are trained in metronomic timing, reading, and stylistic diversity. However, some of these individuals overlook an important drumming concept: playing solid, assertive, and effective fills. Drummers with solid time and technique can enhance their groove by leading a band through an arrangement alongside simple and unyielding fills. Conversely, when drummers’ transitions are weak or erratic, they undermine the music. Advertisement

 
For the complete lesson with transcriptions, check out the August 2016 issue, which is available here.