Page 1 Page 2 2005 GRAMMY AWARD WINNER Best Rogk Albumi

Evens And Odds
How
Fills Add Up?
by John Riley
n my last column, "The Pyramid" [April '05 MD), we explored using a couple of sticking patterns played
at different rates of speed to create the illusion of an accelerating and decelerating ride cymbal pattern. This month we'll see how similar sticking patterns can be used to add variety and mystery to fills.
The books of Gary Chaffee and Gavin Harrison have inspired this column .
I
There are sixteen 16th notes in a measure of 4/4. These notes
can be grouped many different ways. The most common is four
groups of four notes. Now 4+5+7 also equals 16, but since the
division of the measure is not symmetrical, the potential for
intrigue increases. The rhythmic mystery increases even more
when working in longer phrases. In this article we'll use a twomeasure format and develop patterns that add up to thirty-two
16ths (two measures of 16ths), such as 4+4+5+5+7+7 = 32.
Below are some common sticking patterns for four-, five-, and
seven-note phrases.
1 4s
>
>
D J J J JII
>
>
RLRL
RLRRLRLL
>
>
RLLRLRRL
>
7---~
>
>
>
JWJWJW JW IJWJfflJWJffl11
D
RLLRLRRLRLLRRLRR LLRLLRRLRLRRLLRL
.----4-----,
>
>
5
>
7----
>
>
>
JWJfflJWJW IJWJfflJWJffl11
D
RLRRLRLLRLLRRLRR LLRLLRRLLRLLRRLL
Even more mystery is created when you scramble the sequence
of the four, five, and seven.
>
J J J J J J J J II JJJJtm II
5
.----4~
3
Di
5-----,
>
>
7
>
~4~
>
>
>
JmJWJWJffl1 JWJmJmJW I
RLRRLRLRRLRLRRLR LRLRRLRLRLRRLRLL
Ss
>
>
>
DJ J J J JII
RLRLL
>
.....----
>
J J J J JII J JJ JJ J J J JJ II
RLRRL
RLLRRLRRLL
7s
>
>
>
DJ
R
>
J J J J J JI J J J J J J J
R
L
L
R
L
L
R
L
R
R
L
R
L
>
>
>
R L L R R L L
R L L R R L R L R R L L R L
DJ J J J J J JII J J J J J J J J J J J J J JI
>
·----~4-.-----5----,
>
>
,--- 4-----,r------- 5
>
>
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
JmJmJul!w 1
01JmJWJul!w
1
RLRLRLRLRLRLLRLR LLRLRLRLLRLRLRLL
>
JW Jffl JW JW IJffl Jffl JW Jffl11
RLLRRLLRLLRRLLRL RRLRLLRLLRRLRRLL
I prefer sequences like these, where beats 1 and 4 of the second
measure are not accented. (There are many more possibilities. Find
the ones you like.)
4
Di
r--
>
5 ----,r---- 4-----, ;----- 5------,
>
>
>
7
>
>
JmJmJmJm 1JmJmJmJm II
RLLRRLRLLRLRRLRR LLRLLRRLLRLLRRLL
. - - - - 7-----,,....----- 4 - - - . , . - -
2
>
D
>
These sticking patterns generate interesting phrases when
played in succession. Practice them with a metronome.
>
>
>
>
s - , .---- 7------,r-- s-.
>
>
JWJW JWJW IJfflJfflJWJffl11
D
RLRRLRLRLRRLRLLR LRRLRLRRLRLRLRRL
r-
>
7 ~ r - 4 - , r - - - - 7---------, r---- 5-----, r--- 4-----, r - - - 5--,
>
>
>
>
>
JWJWJWJW IJfflJfflJWJffl11
D
RLLRRLLRLRRLRRLL RRLRRLLRLRRLRRLL
.---4---,
>
>
>
5
>
>
7-----,
>
oJWJWJWJW 1JWJWJWJW11
RLRRLRLLRLRRLRLR RLRLRRLRLRLRRLRL
102 I Modern Drummer I December 2005
r-
>
7------, r - - 4-----, r - - - ? - - - - , r---- 5-----, .--- 4--, . . - 5-----,
>
>
>
>
>
JWJWJWJW IJfflJfflJWJffl11
D
RLLRRLLRLRRLRRLL RRLRRLLRLRRLRRLL