In this lesson you will be learning about three quarter bar fills. Three quarters of a bar of 4/4 is three beats and a three quarter bar fill would usually cover beats 2 3 and 4. The first beat of the bar will usually be filled with groove. These patterns will be very similar to our Full Bar Eighth Note Fills and Half Bar Eighth Note Fills and this lesson follows the same structure. The aim of this lesson is to familiarize you with the new fill length and to provide some ideas of how to construct these fills.
In the examples below you will first be shown the fill without groove. You will then be given a four bar phrase using the 'A A A B' structure. Remember to repeat the phrase to practice switching from fill to groove.
Example 1
The first fill is just four straight eighth notes on the snare covering beats 2, 3 and 4.
Fill
Phrase
Example 2
In this fill you will be imitating the idea from our Full Bar Eighth Note Fills where the notes were split in groups of four between two different drums. Because we are starting the fill a beat in the first group only has enough space to play two notes, then you get the full four notes on beats 3 and 4. Also note that when quarter notes are used on the right hand a minim can be used to cover the fill.
Fill
Phrase
Example 3
This is a similar pattern moved between two different drums. I have used the floor tom for the right hand here to show the notation.
Fill
Phrase
Example 4
This pattern uses groups of two on each drum.
Fill
Phrase
Example 5
Finally, an odd grouping.
Fill
Phrase
TASK
- Using the 2 minute rule, get all fills up to a tempo of at least 135bpm.
- Get all four bar phrases up to a tempo of at least 135bpm.REMEMBER to practice repeating the phrases and eliminate any gaps in timing. A metronome is very useful for this.
- Use different grooves in each phrased example.
- Create your own three quarter bar eighth note fills then apply them to a phrased example.
I recommend trying our Very Short Fills or A B Exercises Using Eighth Note Fills next.
