This lesson is similar to our Applying The 'Once Per Drum' Orchestration To Fill Construction lesson and it is worth checking this lesson out if you haven't already. The aim on this page is to give you another simple fill construction idea using a Single Stroke Four and this time I will be focusing on the 4 Stroke Roll In Groups Of Two orchestration. As in the lesson linked above, you wil just be taking different patterns based on this orchestration and applying them to an 'A A A B' structure as a fill.
The examples given on this page will be using the sixth and final exercise in the orchestration lesson linked above. As a reminder, the orchestration is this:
As you can see the fill is made up of various versions of the single stroke four split into two groups of two across two different drums. In each beat the grouping varies slightly. Below is an example of this used as a fill in a four bar phrases following the 'A A A B' structure.
As in the previous lesson make, Have a look through the orchestration lesson linked at the top of the page and have a go at applying each exercise to the 'A A A B' pattern. When you have done that, try creating your own versions of the orchestrations. This could either be a variation in the way the hands move around the kit in the given examples or by coming up with a whole new orchestration idea.
Varying The Length
As in the previous example you will now experiment with different lengths of fill. I have continued using the same orchestration exercise as an example in these versions.
Half Bar Fill
In this example you are starting the fill two beats late.
Three Quarter Bar Fill
In this example you are replacing the first beat of the fill with groove.
Quarter Bar Fill
With the fill only lasting one beat there you are limited with your options here. Just play a four stroke roll on any two parts of the kit.
Orchestration Ideas
Changing orchestrations in this fill is also pretty easy, just stick to the idea of splitting the rudiment between two drums on each beat. As we said before, you don't need to change the orchestration on every beat. Experiment with these ideas and write down the versions you like best.
TASKS
- Learn all phrases above to a tempo of 130bpm.
- Use different grooves in each example.
- With each given length of fill experiment with different construction ideas and different orchestrations.
- Use the rhythmic variation of the single stroke 4 with the same orchestration and fill consturction ideas.
- Write down any fills you create that you like.
