Drum fills are an important part of a drummer’s routine, and having a few under your belt can be extremely useful when you’re on stage and want to add a bit of flair to your performance. But they can be tricky!
We’ve compiled our favourite easy drum fills for beginners to help you get to grips with the basics of these nifty rhythmic patterns. They’ll help you enhance your timing and musicality while giving you some fun ideas for your performances.
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What is a drum fill?
A drum fill is a short, rhythmic pattern that is different from the main groove. It’s often used to help transition between sections of a song, to add an interesting variation, or for a big outro to show a clear ending. They’re all unique and can vary in length, but they’ll usually last either a full bar or half a bar (some can even last just a quarter bar).
Many drummers end with a crash cymbal and kick drum simultaneously on the count of the 1. This signals the beginning of a new section. Using a crash is a great way to easily add dynamics into your playing and make an impact. But to achieve an effective fill, you should start with the basics. They take practice to feel natural – but with time and repetition, they’ll become a routine part of your playing.
Easy drum fills for beginners
1. 8th note build
The first fill I learned to play was the 8th note build. To play this, you essentially need to fit eight beats into one bar of four. This is counted as “1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &” and uses both hands and your kick.
- On both the snare and floor tom, play 8th notes at the same time and gradually increase the volume
- Your kick should be playing quarter notes (every other beat) and should increase in dynamics with your hands
2. 8th note fill
You can also use 8th notes to move around the kit. An 8th note fill uses both hands and is counted the same way as the 8th note build. Typically, the sticking is R L R L R L R L.
- Play four 8th note beats on the snare
- Then, play two 8th note beats on tom 1
- Finally, play two 8th beats on the floor tom
3. 16th note fill
To play this fill, you need to fit 16 notes in one bar of four. You should count this as “1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a”, and it should be played using a single-stroke roll. You will be moving this fill around the kit. The aim is to achieve even strokes between each note.
- Starting on the snare, use both hands to play four beats
- You will then play four 16th note beats on tom 1 and four on tom 2
- Finally, move to the floor tom and play another four beats
4. Bonham Triplets
Another fill to try is the Bonham Triplets, inspired by legendary drummer John Bonham. This fill uses triplets – three notes that are played with a bit of momentum, as though they’re every-so-slightly rushed. This fill is counted as “1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a.”
Bonham triplets are played using both your hands and your kick drum. These triplets require you to move your left and right hands around the kit, whilst incorporating the kick pedal within the three-note pattern.
This sticking pattern is L R K.
- First, play two beats on the snare, then follow with a kick
- Play tom 1 with your left hand, the floor tom with your right hand, and add a kick
- Next, play the floor tom with your left hand and move the right hand to tom 1 before adding another kick
- You will then reverse this, play tom 1 with your left hand, the floor tom with your right hand, and finish with another kick
- These four triplets will then repeat using the same sticking and tom patterns to complete the fill
5. “All The Small Things” by Blink 182
An easy fill to learn is in “All The Small Things” by Blink 182.
- Start with two 8th-note beats on the kick drum and a quarter note on the crash
- Next, play a quarter note on both the snare and crash in unison
- Following this is a triplet that moves between the snare, tom 1, and the floor tom
- Then, play two 8th note beats on the kick
- Finally, finish this fill with a quarter note crash and snare in unison
6. “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins
This fill is played using the toms and kick drum. It incorporates two 16th-note tom hits with both hands in unison. You then add a 16th note kick before moving around the kit. Being the drumming legend that he is, Collins originally used four rack toms and two floor toms, but you can play this fill on a standard five-piece kit.
To play this fill how it is originally written:
- Play 16th note beats on rack toms 1 and 2 in unison and add a 16th note kick
- Next, move your hands to the next rack toms (toms 2 and 3) along and repeat the last step
- Repeat on rack toms 3 and 4
- Next, move your right hand to the first floor tom and your left hand to the 4th rack tom and repeat this pattern for the last time
- Finally, you should play two beats (8th notes) on the first and second floor toms to end the fill
To play this fill on a five-piece kit, you can use both hands on the same tom.
For example:
- Play the 16th notes on tom 1, then play a 16th note kick and repeat
- Repeat this pattern on tom 2, with the kick drum after
- Next, play that same pattern between the floor tom and kick
- Finally, play the two beats (8th notes) on the floor tom to end the fill
7. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
This fill includes flams on the snare drum, 16th note kicks, and quarter notes on the hi-hats.
To play this fill:
- Start with a flam on the snare drum
- Next, play a 16th note kick before immediately playing a quarter note on the hi-hat
- Follow the hi-hat with another 16th note kick drum
- Repeat this pattern twice
- Finish the fill with a flam and then 8th note kick
8. Rock Chorus Ender
This fill is played on the snare, kick, and floor tom. The sticking pattern is R L R L K K R L.
To play this fill:
- Play two 16th notes on the snare. Make sure they’re accented, and play them with your right and then left hand
- Next, play another two 16th note snare hits as ghosted notes
- This is then followed by two 16th notes on the kick drum
- Finally, play two 16th notes. The first should be on the floor tom and the second on the snare drum
FAQs
What are fills in drumming?
Fills in drumming are short, expressive patterns used to transition between sections of a song or add flair. They often involve dynamic variations in rhythm, toms, cymbals, or snare. Fills enhance the musicality of a performance and showcase a drummer’s creativity and technique.
How do you count drum fills?
Counting drum fills involves maintaining the song’s time signature and subdividing beats appropriately. Typically, fills are integrated within a measure, such as beats 3 and 4 in 4/4 time. Counting ensures rhythmic accuracy, aligning fills seamlessly with the music’s tempo and groove.
How can I make my drum fills sound better?
Making drum fills sound better involves practising timing, dynamics, and consistency. Focus on smooth transitions, experiment with rhythmic patterns, and incorporate accents. Using a metronome and analysing professional drummers’ fills can also elevate creativity and precision.
Final thoughts
Drum fills are an important part of a drummer’s routine, and if you’re a beginner, we hope our picks of easy drum fills have given you enough simplicity and variety to get started! We recommend starting slow, using a metronome, and gradually increasing the speed at your own pace. You can also use a practice pad before moving to a full kit.
For further reading, check out some of our other drum guides:
How to Read Drum Music Notation – Everything You Need to Know
How to Tune Drums – The Dos and Don’ts
How to Set Up a Drum Kit – A Beginner’s Guide
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