In this syncopated 5/8 fill lesson you will be building linear fills based around a set grouping of sixteenth note that involve using hand to foot patterns. The grouping used is a '334' lesson and if this terminology is new to you you can find a collection of articles exploring the subject at the bottom of the page. This 5/8 grouping has been applied in other contexts and again, you can find links to the lessons at the bottom of the page.
The important aspect of this lesson is the hand to foot movement. This will require a lot of control and co-ordination between the four limbs and as well as being cool fills, the parts presented on this page are great exercises in these aspects of drumming. Various different combinations of movements are used but the first few exercises use one movement concept for the bar. These are then combined for the last few exercises.
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
Example 7
Example 8
Example 9
Example 10
TASK
- Using the 2 minute rule, get all exercises up to a tempo of at least 120bpm.
- Play a four bar phrase in 5/8 where the fourth contains a linear 334 style fill. Repeat this phrase over.
- Use the given examples to create your own versions of the fill.
- Apply the concept in different time signatures.
