More toms!

[5Austin5]

I've been playing for almost 2 years now, and in the past few months have been playing with some of my friends (guitar player, bassist, and a singer). We are doing well right now and I think I am putting my drums to the music pretty well. But, I have a few questions for some of you guys that are in bands...

I think I need more tom fills, what do you think? When we start off making a chorus, most of the time I come up with a beat for it, and then transition into the verse by using a snare fill or something. But whenever I try using a full tom fill, it doesnt sound right at all. I guess thats a kind of poorly laid out question, but how about this: I feel like I am only using Hi-hat, bass, and snare...crashes too.

Also how do you put songs together? Right now I let my guitarist friend make a riff or something that sounds cool, and then I make something up that sounds decent with it. Then the guitarist slows it down and lets the bass player come up with something.

Bleh...thanks

[brianthedrummer]

My humble opinion.

1. When writing songs for young musician's. I think the standard setup might apply. Song structure can be:

Intro
Verse
Chorus
Verse
Chorus
Bridge
Chorus
Outro

Listen to "Creep" by radio head, and "Send the pain below" by Chevelle. These song structures are the same as above.

One guitar riff for the verse, quiet and simple to let the vocals breath, then heavy and loud for the chorus.

As for fills, Greg Bissonettte said "Fills should elude to the next part. Build up to it, make it more dramatic." What you fill is up to you. But I suggest you listen to some of your songs that are like to the style your playing (rock, death metal, country) and copy them. Later in your career, you will learn more. But for now, why reinvent the wheel?

Also, for a new band, try playing some covers. You'll all learn a lot and get tight.

[Deathmetalconga]

95 percent of the time, about 95 percent of your playing will be on bass, snare, hats and ride. It's fun to cut loose and wail away on the toms, but that has more limited use.

[maddrummr]

For some people fill come naturally. I consider myself to be one of those people. I can hear something and play a very good interpretation of it. I know this doesn't help but let me share some of my insight.

If you want to fill... prepare yourself. You have been playing for two years and i cant imagine you playing some complex groove patterns. So you can think on the fill that you are going to end the phrase with. If possible, think out what you are doing in your head before the fill. In your practice time, sing your drum part.

As said before, covers are a great way to get tight with the members of a band. I'm not a fan of covering songs unless you give your own flavor to it. If you cover a song, try and get the main idea of the song but add a little bit of flavor to it. A cymbal hit here....a ghost note there. Adding little things to a song you know will make you more comfortable with the song. once you are comfortable with the song...fills should come easy.

Oh yea and sometimes the simplest fills are the best ones.

[PQleyR]

It's not what you play, it's how you play it. That's true for songs too.

[That Guy]

Keeping it simple sometimes is the best way to go. Especially if its what the song calls for. Don't get discouraged. Keep playing, and in time fills will find thier place through repetition.

[5Austin5]

Nice =]. Actually a lot better feedback then I would have thought. Thanks.

If anyone else has any suggestions on putting songs together, then by all means tell me...

And about cover songs...we have all talked about it amongst ourselves and other drummers..and they all say that playing cover songs AFTER originals is probably better. To learn to be creative and such haha.

Anyways, thanks again

[Pete Stoltman]

Remember some of the greatest hits from guys like the Funk Bros. (Mowtown session guys) and Stax were done with very minimal fills and some tunes none at all. Play what's right for the song. It all depends on the type of music you are playing.

[DestinationDrumming]

I have been playing a little less time than you. I was playing along to a tune yesterday with my drum teacher and he said I did a great fill. Took a while to remember what I did so I asked him and he said I hit one 8th high tom, one 8th mid tom and then crash back into the first beat of the bar. He thought it was really sympathetic to the backing track.

Like some have said, it appears, sometimes the simplest are the best!

[5Austin5]

Yeah, most my fills are just when I'm not thinking...