In this lesson you will be increasing your familiarity with the Time Signature Of 5/8 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 ten 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.
Example 1
As discussed in the eighth note version of this lesson, straight rolls on the snare can make great fills.
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 and count 3.
Example 3
Then a version with more accents included within the bar.
Example 4
A straight roll around three the kit that is very similar to the Moving In Twos single stroke roll orchestration.
Example 5
Another roll idea using a slightly more complicated movement movement. The intention is to use single strokes through the whole bar.
Example 6
One more roll idea this time based on the Triangle Pattern.
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.
Example 8
Another crash accent idea, a slightly easier version this time.
Example 9
This fill combines rolls over drums with cymbals.
Example 10
Finally a second fill using rolls and cymbals.
TASK
- Using the 2 minute rule, get all exercises upto a tempo of at least 120bpm.
- Play a four bar phrase in 5/8 where the fourth contains a fill. Repeat this phrase over.
- Create your own 5/8 fills, write down any that you really like.