drums 101: what is a fill, what is an accent?

  • Thread starter Thread starter fn86
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Hmmm, well I play the drums so should be able to explain this...

For example, you play a simple 4 bar groove, then the next bar you play will be a fill, then go back to playing the simple groove again. A fill is kinda hard to explain really, you know the toms on a drum kit? well you normally hit them whilst playing a fill, then you go back to playing the groove which is normally played on the snare, bass drum and hi-hat... Not sure if that is explained well enough...

An accent is where for example you hit beat one on the snare drum real loud normally by doing a rim shot, then the rest of the beats are hit at normal level until you get back to beat one again where you hit it real loud. An accent can be placed anywhere though, not just on beat one...
Try this out, count 1, 2, 3, 4 loud but say 1 real loud then 2, 3, 4 at normal volume, that is what an accent is...

Sorry if I haven't explained this clearly enough, it's just so much easier if I had a drum kit to show you with...
 
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okey man, i think i understand, but it would be nice if some1 else also could post their explanation of this, its good to get different view on it =)
 
Right, your ACCENT is an emphasis on a note that usually involves playing that note at a higher velocity. It is usually important because it helps define a pulse of rhythym or melody.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accent_(music)

A fill is a irregular line that you throw into a pattern to help break it up and make it more interesting.

"A fill is a short segment of instrumental music that fills the pauses between phrases or sections of a vocalist or other lead instrument, such as a drum fill."
 
so in this case with drums, its a way to make some variation? lets say that i have a 4 bar drum loop that goes trough my song, at the end of bar 4 i might add some ghost notes or switch up the kick-pattern, is this considered a fill?

and about accents, how big difference are there often in velocity, i mean in general of course, do you accent a kick with a 127 velocity, and the rest 60 velocity or how in general? im using cubase sx
 
fn86 said:
so in this case with drums, its a way to make some variation? lets say that i have a 4 bar drum loop that goes trough my song, at the end of bar 4 i might add some ghost notes or switch up the kick-pattern, is this considered a fill?
Click to expand...

It is indeed a form of variation. Its just something you throw in there to make things sounds more interesting. Thats all there is too it!

fn86 said:
and about accents, how big difference are there often in velocity, i mean in general of course, do you accent a kick with a 127 velocity, and the rest 60 velocity or how in general? im using cubase sx

Click to expand...

An accent is purely an emphasis on the note to make it sound more prominent than the other notes.

It does not have to be 127 velocity.. You should'nt concern yourself with numbers, just use your ears. Thats like saying "how loud should I have my melody if it is mp".. wrong!! Its completely subjective.

But a kick which is 127 and the rest 60 would mean that the kick which is a 127 is an accent, so yes is the answer to your question.
 
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