June 2013

Rock & Jazz Clinic

Double-Bass Fills

Overlapping Into the Next Phrase

by Powell Randolph

The purpose of this lesson is to show you how to overlap bass drum notes at the end of a phrase into a crash at the beginning of the next phrase, in order to maintain a continuous flow of ideas throughout the measure. To begin, practice each of the following phrase fragments until you’re very comfortable with them.

Download Example 1

Download Example 2

Download Example 3

Download Example 4

Now mix the groupings together to create a one- or two-bar phrase of 16th notes.

Download Example 5

Download Example 6

Download Example 7

Download Example 8

Downlad Example 9

Download Example 10

Download Example 11

Download Example 12

Download Example 13

Now let’s try some five- and seven-note groupings.

Download Example 14

Download Example 15

Here are some ideas that incorporate the fives and sevens with the other groupings.

Download Example 16

Download Example 17

Download Example 18

Download Example 19

Download Example 20

Download Example 21

Download Example 22

Download Example 23

Download Example 24

Powell Randolph is a drum teacher at Alpha Music in Virginia Beach and a touring drummer for Windborne Music Productions, which puts together rock shows with major orchestras across North America. For more info, visit powellrandolph.com. Advertisement

 

Be sure to check out the complete article in the June 2013 issue of Modern Drummer for additional exercises and insight.