Free pdf here

Let's continue our exploration of Melodies as fills.

A quick recap of how to read melodies for the drumset:

We play the MELODY on one voice (in this case kick and cymbals) while another voice (snare) 'Fills-in' between our melody notes.

This style of reading is sometimes called the Alan Dawson Method - after the famous Berklee jazz instructor, but lots of people teach with some variation of this method. This is the most basic of voicings - For more of a challenge, you can switch voices, add toms or left foot; you can also change your fill in subdivisions. The possibilities are really endless, the hardest part for most students is just getting going. Start at the beginning of Ted Reed's "Syncopation" and work your way up. Fluency is the goal, not sloppy speed.

Sixteenth note melodies are inherently funky - E's and Ah's fit in the cracks of most grooves; so you hear them used a lot more in "Advanced" music, like neo-soul and fusion. But don't let that scare you, start slow and focus on placement - once you're fluent in landing on E's and Ah's your phrasing will start to open up and get off of the 1/4 note and 1/8th note grid.

These exercises plus a lot more are available in the book "Drumset Patterns, Melodies and Rudiments" - which can be purchased at www.thedrummerbrain.com/store

Happy drums to you

Transcription here

Part 2 in a series of videos exploring Melodic based fills and Fill-ins

Fill Melody Exercise #1: https://youtu.be/o53IH8dZipg

Introduction to Melodies and Fill-ins: https://youtu.be/LHYa1qF-9ZM

We continue to explore melodies with 8th note rests - this time in a more traditional descending fill voicing. Remember that you can voice your melody and fill-ins on any drum or cymbal - unique voicings can make the same melody sound completely different. Explore and expand your creativity!

Go slow. Strive for flow, not speed. Keep your focus on the melody.

This is an excerpt from the second section of "Patterns, Melodies and Rudiments," a book exploring drumset fills. To purchase the book (digital or physical copy) visit the store

Part 1 transcription here

Part 2 transcription here

An introduction to the second method of fills: MELODIES

More specifically Melodies and Fill Ins. Also commonly known as the ALAN DAWSON method - his material is highly valuable for any student of the drumset; This style of filling is pretty common in the jazz school of playing (because it allows drummers to read, play and solo to melodies from jazz charts) - but just a little modification can make it useful for any style of music.

The basic idea is this: read a melody with one voice and fill in between that melody with another. Most students start with the melody on a cymbal (with a kick) and fill in with their snare. Start super simple and keep your focus on the melody. Some students pick this concept up right away, some students take a while to wrap their heads around it - as always, strive for flow not speed.

Once you’re comfortable with the basics, we can use smaller subdivisions and double stroke rolls as our fill ins.

PART II

Once you’re comfortable with basics of Melody and Fill-in playing, you can and should modify: You can change voices for both the Melody and the Fill-ins, you can mix the subdivisions of your fill ins, you can also add ‘Ornaments’ like flams and diddles and doubles.

The voicing and phrasing you chose will greatly affect how the Melody sounds and feels, you can create two entirely different parts from one melody voiced in two radically different ways. Here again is where the rubber meets the road for your creativity - start simple and work your way up to something inventive and musical. Happy shedding!

This is an excerpt from a larger book on fills titled "Drumset Patterns, Melodies and Rudiments" available for purchase (as physical or digital copy) in the store