In this lesson you will be increasing your familiarity with the Time Signature Of 7/8 by learning some sixteenth note fills. In some ways these patterns may be more comfortable than those Using Eighth Notes as you will now be playing blocks of 14 notes, so an even number, meaning the bar will end on a left hand as you are used to. The issue of odd numbered beats in a bar was discussed in the eighth note lesson linked above if you aren't sure what I'm on about there.

The construction methods used for these fills will all be concepts you are hopefully familiar with from other fill lessons, they are just being applied to the new time signature here. Several ideas have been listed below a long with a quick note on how each has been constructed. There are many more options for this style of fill so try and get creative and come up with both variations on given fills and your own ideas. Some of these construction concepts will be similar to our similar lesson on Fills In 5/8.


Example 1

As discussed in the eighth note version of this lesson, straight rolls on the snare can make great fills.

A simple semi quaver fill in 7/8


Example 2

Adding accents to the a straight snare part within this time signature can make some awesome 'jagged' rhythms. Here those accents are on count 1, count 3 and count 5.

A simple semi quaver fill in 7/8


Example 3

Then a version with more accents included within the bar.

A simple semi quaver fill in 7/8


Example 4

A straight roll around the kit that uses the Moving In Twos single stroke roll orchestration.

A simple semi quaver fill in 7/8


Example 5

Another roll idea using a slightly more complicated movement movement. The intention is to use single strokes through the whole bar.

A simple semi quaver fill in 7/8


Example 6

One more roll idea this time based on the Triangle Pattern.

A simple semi quaver fill in 7/8


Example 7

This fill idea is quite similar to the accent idea. However, you are playing the accented notes on a snare and cymbal and filling in the other notes with a kick. When using 16th notes this style of fill can get quite complicated so don't be afraid to slow it down. The bar is split into two sets of seven notes in this fill.

A simple semi quaver fill in 7/8


Example 8

Another crash accent idea, a slightly easier version this time.

A simple semi quaver fill in 7/8


Example 9

This fill combines rolls over drums with cymbals.

A simple semi quaver fill in 7/8


Example 10

Finally a second fill using rolls and cymbals.

A simple semi quaver fill in 7/8


TASK

  1. Using the 2 minute rule, get all exercises upto a tempo of at least 120bpm.
  2. Play a four bar phrase in 7/8 where the fourth contains a fill. Repeat this phrase over.
  3. Create your own 7/8 fills, write down any that you really like.

Lessons

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