How does one compose fills and solos for the drumkit?

Question

I keep hearing that rudiments are the building blocks of drumming. How do you create drum fills and solos out of rudiments?They say that solos and fills are made from rudiments. Are they ALL made from nothing but rudiments? Are rudiments the only way to compose them?How do you know what drums to play the rudiments on and in which order? Is it really just random? It can't be. There has to be some music theory or compositional rules that dictate what can or can't be done and how but I can't find them anywhere.

Answer 1

I'm reading this question in 2 ways

1. From a composer's standpoint.
2. From a drummer's standpoint.

From a composer's standpoint, you don't compose fills and solos for drummers. That's where you give them creative license.

From a drummer's standpoint, think how does a horn player, a pianist, or a guitar player come up with fills and solos?

Rudiments are a tool for creating drumming vocabulary. Creating improvisation using strictly rudiments won't render good results. For tuned instruments, their vocabulary is scales and arpeggios. But looking at improvisation only by looking at scales and arpeggios is not the most creative way of learning how to improvise.

Here's what I recommend

1. Get a basic mastery of the instrument you are playing (drums).
2. Listen to what other drummers, that you respect, are playing and copy their licks. This will give you a basic vocabulary to work with.
3. Practice those licks until you master them.
4. If you have the skills and the patience, transcribe the song, lick, or solo, so you get a better understanding of why that particular drummer did what he did at that particular time. It also makes it easier to play.
5. Practice improvising for at least 30 minutes+ a day. Incorporate the licks you learned into your own style and they will become yours.

The more you practice improvisation, the more you will feel comfortable with it and the less you have to think about it. That is when the real creativity comes out and sets you apart from others.

Answer 2

i have seen them around if i can get them i will let you know and i will get you some

Answer 3

Tempo, feel and dynamics are essential elements of playing an effective drum fill or solo. For example, Russ Kunkel using brushes to add tasty fills on James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" ballad or John Bonham's powerful triplet fills on his trademark solo "Moby Dick." Bottom line; always make the fill fit the song and you can't go wrong. Want to learn more? Book lessons with me.

Answer 4

The short answer is yes, it COULD be random, it depends on what the music calls for and what the player is feeling in that moment. I feel like your asking more about what musicians would refer to as correct context. You can play any fill you want, whenever you want, which could be made up of any number of rudiments wither mixed together, or played in series to create said fill. What would make it "wrong" would be if it didn't fit the context of the music. Like playing a Metallica type drum beat for an acoustic rendition of "Only You".