In popular music, a fill is a short musical passage, riff, or rhythmic sound which helps to sustain the listener's attention during a break between the phrases of a melody. "The terms riff and fill are sometimes used interchangeably by musicians, but [while] the term riff usually refers to an exact musical phrase repeated throughout a song", a fill is an improvised phrase played during a section where nothing else is happening in the music.[2] While riffs are repeated, fills tend to be varied over the course of a song. For example, a drummer may fill in the end of one phrase with a sixteenth note hi-hat pattern, and then fill in the end of the next phrase with a snare drum figure.
In drumming, a fill is defined as a "short break in the groove—a lick that 'fills in the gaps' of the music and/or signals the end of a phrase. It's akin to a mini-solo."[3] A fill may be played by rock or pop instruments such as the electriclead guitar, bass, organ, drums or by other instruments such as strings or horns. In blues or swing-style scat singing, a fill may even be sung. In a hip-hop group, a fill may consist of rhythmic turntablescratching performed by a DJ.
"Fills can vary as to style, length, and dynamics...[though] most fills are simple in structure and short in duration"[4] Each type of popular music such as funk, country, and metal has characteristic fill passages, such as short scalarlicks, runs, or riffs. Musicians are expected to be able to select and perform stylistically appropriate fills from a collection of stock fills and phrases. "Although it is a small break in the pattern, the tempo is not changed at all, and in most instances the time-keeping pattern is resumed immediately after the fill...An important point to remember is that the flow of the music should not be sacrificed to the technicality of the fill."[4]
Chordal fills on guitar or keyboard instruments are "groups of single notes played within the context of a specific chord" to "produc[e] a countermelody."[5] A guitarist playing chordal fills will strum the chord for several strums and then interpolate several passing notes that lead to the next chord.
In some styles, such as jazz or jazz fusion, musicians have more freedom to improvise fill passages each time a piece or song is performed. In other styles, such as bluegrass, performers are more likely to use standard "walkup" or "walkdown" scalar passages as fills in every song. Some groups use previously composed fills as part of the identity of a song. The Eagles, for example, play the same fills each time they perform a song.
Comparison with similar techniques
Fills are distinguished from solo breaks, which are short, often unaccompanied solo passages interpolated between sections of a song. Whereas fills are relatively unobtrusive, solo breaks such as bass runs are usually composed to draw attention to the soloist's virtuoso skills by using difficult techniques and rapid passages, eg solos such as guitar solos.
Fill passages are also distinguished from "lead" passages, in which a musical instrument becomes a melodic substitute for the singer for a substantial period.
Sources
^Peckman, Jonathan (2007). Picture Yourself Drumming, p.59. ISBN1-59863-330-9.
^Schroedl, Scott (2001). Play Drums Today!, p.24. Hal Leonard. ISBN0-634-02185-0.
^ abMorton, James (1990). You Can Teach Yourself Drums, p.57. Mel Bay. ISBN1-56222-033-0.
^"How Guitar Chordal Fills Work". 14 November 2008.
April 21, 2023
fill, music, popular, music, fill, short, musical, passage, riff, rhythmic, sound, which, helps, sustain, listener, attention, during, break, between, phrases, melody, terms, riff, fill, sometimes, used, interchangeably, musicians, while, term, riff, usually, . In popular music a fill is a short musical passage riff or rhythmic sound which helps to sustain the listener s attention during a break between the phrases of a melody The terms riff and fill are sometimes used interchangeably by musicians but while the term riff usually refers to an exact musical phrase repeated throughout a song a fill is an improvised phrase played during a section where nothing else is happening in the music 2 While riffs are repeated fills tend to be varied over the course of a song For example a drummer may fill in the end of one phrase with a sixteenth note hi hat pattern and then fill in the end of the next phrase with a snare drum figure Sixteenth note fill in a rock popular groove played on a drum kit 1 play help info In drumming a fill is defined as a short break in the groove a lick that fills in the gaps of the music and or signals the end of a phrase It s akin to a mini solo 3 A fill may be played by rock or pop instruments such as the electric lead guitar bass organ drums or by other instruments such as strings or horns In blues or swing style scat singing a fill may even be sung In a hip hop group a fill may consist of rhythmic turntable scratching performed by a DJ Fills can vary as to style length and dynamics though most fills are simple in structure and short in duration 4 Each type of popular music such as funk country and metal has characteristic fill passages such as short scalar licks runs or riffs Musicians are expected to be able to select and perform stylistically appropriate fills from a collection of stock fills and phrases Although it is a small break in the pattern the tempo is not changed at all and in most instances the time keeping pattern is resumed immediately after the fill An important point to remember is that the flow of the music should not be sacrificed to the technicality of the fill 4 Chordal fills on guitar or keyboard instruments are groups of single notes played within the context of a specific chord to produc e a countermelody 5 A guitarist playing chordal fills will strum the chord for several strums and then interpolate several passing notes that lead to the next chord Tradition and improvisation Edit G run in G major Play help info contains both hammer ons and a pull off In some styles such as jazz or jazz fusion musicians have more freedom to improvise fill passages each time a piece or song is performed In other styles such as bluegrass performers are more likely to use standard walkup or walkdown scalar passages as fills in every song Some groups use previously composed fills as part of the identity of a song The Eagles for example play the same fills each time they perform a song Comparison with similar techniques EditFills are distinguished from solo breaks which are short often unaccompanied solo passages interpolated between sections of a song Whereas fills are relatively unobtrusive solo breaks such as bass runs are usually composed to draw attention to the soloist s virtuoso skills by using difficult techniques and rapid passages eg solos such as guitar solos Fill passages are also distinguished from lead passages in which a musical instrument becomes a melodic substitute for the singer for a substantial period Sources Edit Peckman Jonathan 2007 Picture Yourself Drumming p 59 ISBN 1 59863 330 9 The Complete Idiot s Guide to the Art of Songwriting Available online at https books google ca books id 76lKgSfX9m8C By Casey Kelly David Hodge 2011 Schroedl Scott 2001 Play Drums Today p 24 Hal Leonard ISBN 0 634 02185 0 a b Morton James 1990 You Can Teach Yourself Drums p 57 Mel Bay ISBN 1 56222 033 0 How Guitar Chordal Fills Work 14 November 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fill music amp oldid 1100325896, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
