5 Motown Drum Fills You Need To Know | Drum Lesson

[@jeterpilled_memester]

I’m just going to sneak these drum fills everywhere I can...they sound so fluid and all... These fill videos are a godsend.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

DIO Brando So Glad they help!

[@mikerodg82]

This was amazing. I played drums growing up in church and stopped at the age of 13. I am 36 now and picking the sticks back up. This video and the rest of hour videos have really helped me get my timing down a few fills. I did what you said, and after learning these fills and practicing them, I put them to music and I was shocked to see that I was playing along. It felt great. I’m definitely going to look more into your website for more lessons. Thank you

[@bpabustan]

Stephen, you were once in a soul band! I'm sure, your rhythm, timing and groove just went to a very very high level!

[@stevebravo1422]

SIX STROKE ROLL BABY! also 100 percent watch Standing in the shadows of Motown it's one of the important periods of modern music history!

[@zacharywedge8079]

I've been wanting to learn these types of fills for forever, so this video is a godsend

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Glad it helped Zachary!

[@andrewmiller2898]

That snare sounds AMAZING!!!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks Andrew!

[@adrianlyord3978]

The story behind Marvin Gaye's version of " I Heard It Through The Grapevine " features all 3 of the Motown Drummers. .. Benny Benjamin, Richard "Pistol "Allen and Ureil Jones playing different parts at the same time in the studio! That's awesome! Thanks for sharing your video!

[@chiron4902]

One of the best drumming channels on KZbin. Keep it up ! 👌

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

SteamyChicken AndEggs Thanks so much my friend

[@jilllapointe4456]

these fills were a lot of fun and easy for a beginner like me!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

So glad you enjoyed learning them Jill!

[@DrGray_Drummer]

Love 6 stroke roll fills! There's so much ya can do with this. This vid should be enough motivation to get your 6 stroke rolls happening. Phil Collins made a variation of this sound great on the tune "Missed Again"

[@rhinojimeneziii2750]

Im a metal head rocker all day but I love any kind of music with awesome drums in it jazz rock Motown pop anything .that I take in like a sponge even norteno cumbias and samba u name it .

[@naeemrashada1009]

Great video, Pistols and Eddie "Bongo" Brown were from Memphis Tennessee USA. The Motown drum sound has always been a favorite of mine's. I am always mesmerized by listening to the Motown drums. Pistols said they would add certain things on top of the drums to get that particular Motown drum sound. Much thanks!

[@OogieWa]

Being a 'new' musician at 67 (bass and now key bass/keys), and I was going over stuff I enjoyed in the past and still do; always a big Motown fan, growing up 45 miles from Detroit. The Funk Brothers were freaking amazing! And I was listening to the drums, got blown away by the tom tom walk-ups and mid-chorus fills on Just Walk Away Renee. Started researching and here we are! Thank you very much. Anybody have an idea of who that was on that recording? From this I'm thinking Jones, wasn't heroin taking BB out of the studio around early '67?

[@bobwright4945]

The Pistol Allen fill to me is the most recogniseable, all great by the way.

[@MegaLJ3]

Thanks a million Steve!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

My pleasure

[@mkdrum1976]

Great video, Stephen. "Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a GREAT documentary!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

mkdrum1976 it’s so good! And thanks!

[@nathanredmon96]

That 6 stroke roll fill is used throughout Freeway Of Love by Aretha Franklin. My band covers that song and I love doing that fill. I also use it on Superstition. Works perfectly.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Nathan Redmon Yea, it’s everywhere lol. And you’re right, all over that Aretha track.

[@nathanredmon96]

Narada Michael Walden recorded the drums on Freeway Of Love. Do you recognize that name from the Motown era? That fill is exactly what you taught, and it's an Aretha Franklin song, so maybe he's an old Motown drummer?

[@chriscurtis8344]

That's because drummer Narada Michael Walden produced that song and he is a HUGE Motown music expert. That's why you're hearing that Benny Benjamin 6 stroke fill.

[@nathanredmon96]

Christopher Curtis I was waiting for someone to point that out. Lol I threw the bait out there. 😉

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Click here to snag the sheet music for this lesson: bit.ly/3Evh6NK These 5 drum fills appear on countless chart topping hits. Hopefully this lesson will help you nail that classic Motown sound. But don't limit them to just Motown songs...you can also hear them in many current songs. Learn them and then find a way to apply them that fits the music. Leave me a comment and let me know you stopped by!

[@JoeLabrincha]

Stephen Taylor d

[@stephenord3403]

I was six, still learning, couldn't do Benny. 66 now and still listening and learning. RIP great man and drummer

[@derekcavin7665]

I enjoy your channel, glad I found it.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Derek Cavin Thanks Derek!

[@gmoney1592]

Another great video. Extremely helpful. Some nice fills to add to the arsenal. . Good stuff as always . Keep them coming !!!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Gary Colkett You bet Gary!

[@MrJacobThrall]

Don't think I can sit down at my kit for a quick rattle around without using one of these! Usually that Benny Benjamin version - that's my go-to intro for just about anything.

[@alainbaeyens6917]

Thank you for the sheet... I'm gonna use it with the band and in the lessons for my little students.. Those little easy note's are mostly very impressive.. there are manny ,manny more in different styles.. Great work. thanks. We call it here ,,, Pats boem bang... hihihi... And i hope you had a good 8 days off..... Grts..... From The Netherlands.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Alain Baeyens Thanks Alain...so glad the sheet music was helpful!

[@doloresduran-cefalu1165]

SOOO helpful, thank you.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

You're more than welcome

[@elrueoanunziato9861]

Desde argentina Niko, muchas gracias son de mucha ayuda tus videos !!!!!

[@slimyelow]

learning kicks over time in jazz is the crown jewel to not overplaying fills and the gateway to composing proper drum parts for yourself as well as the group.

[@jimstone6071]

Great stuff Stephen many tanks..🥁🥁🥁✌️✌️

[@christianfraude4517]

Love Motown & loved & shared Stevo mate !

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks!

[@stephensciucco3074]

Great Stuff Stephen I use this as lessons.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Glad it helped my friend!

[@royinnellamusicaccount4968]

Love your stuff, Thanks for the great insight. I love to play Motown.

[@PhillipJames100]

Fantastic - from Sydney Australia - you are almost as good as the great Pistol Allen - Thank you Sir,

[@althewicked]

Love that Motown vibe :) Thanks man!

[@chrismyersdrums]

Yeah Stephen! Nice. The #2 fill is like a six stroke roll, and it's something I've used for years. Very effective, and sounds great!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

chris myers Really effective fills

[@drumsetproschool]

Thats a Lot of inspiration, thank you Stephen!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Drumsetpro - Szkoła Perkusyjna You bet!

[@joekunkel5369]

Stephen, this is just fantastic! Ive always loved the feel and sound of these fills. Seeing the way you break them down is awesome. Thank you for this video! I’ll be watching it often. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

You bet Joe

[@SKragseth]

Good morning! Really versatile fills here. Could be used in reggae too. Good video!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Spencer Kragseth they are super versatile. Glad you enjoyed the vid!

[@omgworkffsugh]

9:30 Nowhere to run - Martha Reeves & Vandellas

[@rhinojimeneziii2750]

Thanks bro awesome fills

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

You bet Ralph!

[@CardinalEgan]

On the "first iteration" using 16th notes, throw in a double stroke like this: R L L R L then R on the floor tom. It's much easier not having two RH accents in a row.

[@lindacostello77]

You rule! This is awesome!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks Linda!

[@jjvillanueva3616]

it helps me a lot..Godbless sir!

[@ecclairmayo4153]

Thank you! Subbed

[@stevenmckeown3572]

Well done thanks Chrees

[@joejazz67]

Fantastic great stuff love your teaching style may mosey on over to the site and sign up thanks for posting

[@andychallis9044]

Absolutely on the nail stephen, lovely of you to cover this , my favourite genre all my life .

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks Andy

[@BCBenny]

wicked good stuff Steve I picked up on this fill from one of your older vids love this fill!!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

It's so useful

[@yinmorgan3030]

thank you very much it helped me alot

[@gpdrummer2143]

Excellent!!

[@Real-Cristopher777]

Muchas gracias, son de gran ayuda tus videos, un abrazo desde Guadalajara 🇲🇽 😃

[@ARDrummer]

Cool fills!

[@neekondrums]

Phil Collins (famously a huge Motown fan) put these all over "I Missed Again".

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

neek onDrums Yea, he did. There’s a lot to learn from the Motown era of drumming.

[@NatRussoAuthor]

Exactly! I'm a total noob on the drums, but "I Missed Again" was one of those songs I just HAD to learn to play because I'm such huge Phil Collins fan. I couldn't tell what he was doing until I watched this video. Mystery solved!

[@NatRussoAuthor]

Oh, and by the way...those toms sound incredible!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Nat Russo Thank you my friend!

[@robertmclaughlin9472]

Just thought I'd pass on the song "Another Day's Gone By" by Aaron Neville, the son of Ivan Neville. Simple but good song. Can't believe it goes back to '88?! Jeff Porcaro did the drums. He starts it off with that classic Motown fill. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqCYiqqjp8Zplbc

[@davedalessandroDalessandro]

I love motown my best friend from wash High played for James Brown Eric Hargrove we graduated together from wash High in 1989 this music is I think the funnest to play

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

davedalessandro8189 Dalessandro It’s a blast to play. And really gives your playing new depth to learn the history of these styles.

[@dagostinoification]

good !Stephen !

[@erickgrajeda4131]

Hey Man just wanted to ask for your drum tuning would you put your toms higher or lower than your snare in this style and also in jazz? Just wanted to get your point of view

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Erick Grajeda In this style (these drummers were jazz players and a lot of that carried over) I would tune a bit higher than normal. In jazz I always crank my tuning up for the response.

[@erickchavira4686]

You should do a drum camp one day I have my money and sleeping bag ready for when the day comes when you decide to make it happen 😤😤😤😤

[@doultonduck6534]

Hey! Thanks for the video! I just need to thank you for the tip for fixing the snare a couple weeks ago, I listened to the drum, while tapping the head, and I found what was wrong. The Snare wire had broke but was still in the... I don't know what you call it... But what the snare wires are suppose to be in... :/ but anyway thanks for the tips!!

[@doultonduck6534]

I've been playing for a year so thanks for your patients;)

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Doulton Duck You bet...and glad you got that drum fixed up!

[@doultonduck6534]

:) Thanks Again!

[@adisusisay1132]

Tnx

[@askyles91]

Louis C K does Motown

[@ethanpenney7295]

Hey Stephen I just had a question... as my first time playing drums in a band, I’m playing at church. When we choose songs to play, I go ahead and learn them close or identical to how the recording sounds, but when I go to practice with the band, it doesn’t always work because not everyone plays the song like in the recording. They might play a more simple version of the song. A lot of times the drum part is pretty powerful and builds a lot, but it doesn’t feel like the rest of the band would be able to get that kind of sound or build if I played the drums like in the recording . As a result, the song doesn’t always sound very strong and it feels uncomfortable. What should I do?

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Totally understand...and many times the arrangements change in this setting. You need to adjust your parts. Simplify, change, etc. I always try to look at how I can build parts though...dynamically, etc. So don't be afraid to change them for the situation. It's always a great learning tool to learn the actual song parts though, so keep that up!

[@flashfan1122]

I struggle with this as well!

[@johngavin1448]

sippin on that grape drank? lol. great video as always man

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

John Gavin Always sippin’

[@hensonkimberly]

Hi Stephen, Another extraordinary lesson, and it's Motown! I've tried repeatedly requesting your 5 Motown Fills Music Sheet and It doesn't get sent. Maybe others are having the same issue.

[@benjaminvaughan4752]

Can you tell who was playing on Stevie Wonder's "Sugar"? I've always wondered.

[@leeschmitz993]

"It seems simple, but it works" Motown, in a nutshell

[@Mark_Williams300]

Also useful for us robodrum users :D

[@markricher7362]

I grew up on Funk/Disco. I can give you a quick history lesson. Back in the 70's Detroit was cranking out cars, muscle cars, you name it. Well the factories hired from the neighborhoods. People now had lot's of money, giving their children musical instruments these kids were good! Thus Funk was born. That's the quick and dirty of how Funk/Disco was born! You can thank muscle cars!

[@classixdrummer]

One question, Stephen. What is the Lacroix?

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

www.lacroixwater.com/

[@classixdrummer]

Casey Anderson That ‘splains it. Too old to be a hipster, old enough to be a former hippie.

[@AslanW]

Motown drum fills have no cymbals. That's what make them so straight-forward and tight.

[@jgdevoe]

Lot of fun fills here. Getting the music sheet not working though. Just sits there and clocks.................

[@ghirodormiente5800]

Stephen do you still play drum in the church?

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Ghiro Dormiente I do. Playing tomorrow actually

[@brianwarner308]

wow man is that your hi hat stand or you just happy to see me??

[@IzthatafaC]

There's a fill on The Tears Of A Clown that reminds me of my petrol lawnmower starting

[@lightotw]

The main thing everyone misses about the Motown drum beat is to smash it and make it propel the music. It's not laid back rock and blues beat. It's hit music beat. It made people want to dance to it! Just listen to it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5_Iamtnd5yEars It has a tight drive. If you don't have that, you just have rock drumming. Even in the drum rolls, they have to propel us forward. The timing has to be tight, or you don't have it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5WXZKGNoMyIsMk An example that's not The Supremes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGm4p2xrbraoeck

[@bonafidestallion2226]

I'm noticing that when he plays the 2nd and 3rd iterations, he uses a 16th note pulse at the slower tempos, but one he speeds it up he switches to a triplet pulse. Was this change intentional or did I miss something?

[@TotalSinging]

Motown drummers never played their cymbals during their recordings. Too much leakage to the other instruments. Its an odd feature of many early Motown songs - no crash cymbals anywhere.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

And I love it! It really was a defining characteristic of the time. As well as their controlled playing of the ride cymbal. Everyone was in a room together so they had to be really careful about voice choice and what it would do to the other mics. GREAT point to bring up!

[@afunkusamongus]

Kevin beat me too this. I was going to point this out as the most missed part of the Motown sound.

[@naeemrashada1009]

Thanks for sharing this information. I have been very curious about this since I heard Uriel mention it. He said Berry Gordy was very very strict about that. Thanks for the explanations.

[@Direitistaconservador]

Motown is so hard...

[@noahpirsch6798]

What drums are those?

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

noah pirsch Tama starclassic

[@noahpirsch6798]

Stephen Taylor gotta be one of my favorite kits I’ve seen

[@noahpirsch6798]

Stephen Taylor sounds and looks great.

[@slimyelow]

Phils come down to good accents on snare. - its not the toms or crasheez

[@davecarsley8773]

Lol... A studio producing so many hits that that nobody even knew who was playing on which #1.... Awesome

[@naeemrashada1009]

Then to add more confusion some songs were recorded by the Wrecking Crew from Capital records out in L.A. One such song "The Happening" by the Supremes was record by the Wrecking Crew.

[@CardinalEgan]

@@naeemrashada1009 - Yes, and when The Corporation was producing for Motown in LA, they had their own rhythm section including guys like Wilton Felder - bass, Gene Pello - drums, Freddie Perren - keyboards who were LA guys, but not part of the Wrecking Crew.

[@timmayenknecht9621]

When you're watching the video, and drinking Lacroix, and your name's Tim. Haha, weird.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Tim Mayenknecht Always. Creepin...

[@Bluzigo]

Wait a minute... this is the drum fill at the very beginning of wii sports

[@kevinsloan5570]

Oh yea thats why I watch drum lessons , so I can watch someone have a drink ? ! !!!

[@jokeisalife3455]

1 motown drum fill you need to know

[@demonslayer5613]

use traditional grip

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

No. I prefer matched. Went through that debate in college. No benefit to traditional...or to matched for that matter.

[@demonslayer5613]

+Stephen Taylor tell that to buddy rich

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Traditional grip is not the reason Buddy played the way he did. Grip is a personal thing. One is not better than the other.

[@ledgy69]

How ignorant

[@mtndewman1022]

stax records better

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

I think "better" is always in the ear of the beholder...but its a good thing it's not a competition ;^)

[@mtndewman1022]

Stephen Taylor Just kidding of course, but would love to hear your thoughts on some of al jackson jr's playing. he was a big influence on steve jordan

[@naeemrashada1009]

I am from Memphis Tennessee. The home of Stax records. Stax does have a unique drum sound and I am familiar with two of the drummers. Carl Cunningham of the Bar-Kays and Alvin Jackson of Booker T & the MGs. I love the Stax drum sound but I am an absolute fanatic when comes to the The Big "3" at Motown. Motown by a landslide in my humble opinion.

[@rhinojimeneziii2750]

But no country music lol ok