PERCUSSION
Larry Crowe is a drummer , percussionist , and educator living in Toronto . He performs regularly with a variety of artists and groups . He is also the author of two drum set method books , Masterful Drumming Volume One and
Two , and two online courses on hand drumming . www . larrycrowe . com .
By Larry Crowe
Grooves & Fills of Different Lengths
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Ex . 1 is a two-bar phrase with a one-beat fill .
A
lot of drummers love to work on drum fills or licks that are one bar long , just waiting for that perfect opportunity to unleash our artistic creations on our fellow bandmates .
Well , those moments don ’ t come by that often . In fact , in real life musical situations , you won ’ t always get to play a one-bar drum fill . Sometimes a half-bar or a one-beat fill might be all you need .
In music , you may encounter phrases of different lengths . Two- , three- , and four-bar phrases are not uncommon . The following exercises are made up of various grooves and fills of different lengths . The fills start as simple one-beat fills , then two beats , and finally three beats long . The grooves are also challenging and may involve open and closed hi-hat sounds , ride cymbal , and ride bell patterns . Remember to count !
Ex . 2 is a three-bar phrase with a one-beat fill .
Ex . 3 is a four-bar phrase with a one-beat fill .
Ex . 4 is a two-bar phrase with a two-beat fill .
Ex . 5 is a three-bar phrase with a two-beat fill
Ex . 6 is a four-bar phrase with a two-beat fill .
Ex . 7 is a two-bar phrase with a three-beat fill .
Ex . 8 is a three-bar phrase with a three-beat fill .
Ex . 9 is a four-bar phrase with a three-beat fill
28 • CANADIAN MUSICIAN