Six Eight and Three Four Fills: Unlocking Creative Drum Fills in Odd Time

Playing in time signatures like 6/8 and 3/4 can be both a challenge and a thrill. These meters offer unique phrasing opportunities that break away from the straight feel of 4/4, opening the door to expressive, musical, and creative fill ideas. Whether you’re working on a waltz, a shuffle, or a fusion groove, adding fills in 6/8 or 3/4 can inject real personality into your playing.

Understanding the Feel

Before diving into fills, it’s important to understand the feel of each time signature.

• 6/8 is typically felt as two groups of three eighth notes (1-2-3, 4-5-6), creating a lilting, triplet-based pulse. Think of songs like “Norwegian Wood” by The Beatles.

• 3/4 is usually felt as three quarter notes per bar, with a more straightforward, waltz-like feel (1-2-3, 1-2-3).

Both allow you to experiment with rhythmic groupings, dynamics, and phrasing that can sound fresh and musical.

Fill Concepts in 6/8

1. Triplet-Based Rolls: Because 6/8 is naturally in a triplet feel, fills based on double strokes or six-stroke rolls feel very fluid. Try playing a roll across the toms starting on beat 5 to land back on the 1.

2. Grouping Over the Barline: Use 4-note groupings (like RLRK) across 6/8 to create tension. Since 6 isn’t divisible evenly by 4, it creates a syncopated, exciting sound that resolves when you return to the groove.

3. Tom Melodies: Emphasize melodic movement between high and low toms while maintaining the triplet feel. This adds a melodic element and keeps your fills musical.

Fill Ideas in 3/4

1. Straight Quarter Note Builds: Use the simplicity of 3/4 to build intensity. Play snare on beat 3 in one bar, then 2 and 3 in the next, leading to a full 1-2-3 fill before returning to the groove.

2. Offset Accents: Try placing accents on unexpected beats (like beat 2 or the “and” of 3) to create interesting phrasing. Combine this with dynamics for expressive fills.

3. Linear Fills: Play one note at a time (e.g., R-K-L-K) in a sequence that spans over three beats. This creates a smooth, flowing fill that can sound really slick in 3/4.

These meters give you creative space to break free from common patterns. The key is to feel the groove and make sure your fills support the song’s rhythm. Practice with a metronome, loop simple grooves, and let your fills grow naturally from the time signature. Happy drumming!

Watch the video below to get some ideas for Six Eight and Three Four Fills.

You can also find the six eight and three four beats lesson here.