Lesson: Signature Fills Can Be Simple (Ft. Al Jackson Jr. on Otis Redding's 'Mr. Pitiful')

Get Your Free DRUM! Mag Pack ► pro.drummagazi... On the funk-soul Otis Redding tune "Mr Pitiful," Al Jackson Jr. plays a steady-driving beat with many signature fills. He keeps it simple while also showcasing musicianship, subtle chops and compositional fills designed to help the track.
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This month we take a look at a few legendary drummers: Al Jackson Jr., Mick Fleetwood, and the drummers of Motown. Al had the incredibility to see the big picture when developing a drum part for a hit record-he knew when to save the big fill and when to keep it simple and effective. Mick always plays for the song and creates fills that are integral to the tunes. The Motown drummers always added a signature fill to the tunes they played on but were unfortunately not properly credited, thus leaving us to wonder if it was Benny Benjamin, Richard “Pistol” Allen, Uriel Jones, or perhaps Larrie Londin on those grooving tracks.

[@perkster123]

I've always been obsessed with Al Jackson and have raved about him to everyone who would listen since I was in my teens. I could never understand why he wasn't raved about by every drumner. I've always wanted to know how he got those three incredible drum rolls on the outro of Double or Nothing (on their masterpiece album Hip-Hug-Her), they sound like he's playing on a huge kit, like Terry Bozzio's or something, but he only played a very simple kit with one rack tom and one floor tom and the snare. The majority of that album was cut in one day!! One of the wonders of the world! 🤣

[@unum1979]

Awesome video. Al Jackson Jr. Was my grandfather and it makes me smile that he impacted so many people. 😃

[@stangodsey1168]

I just love thease fills i grew up with thease songs they define groove im 64 years young and love playing them

[@tmaddrummer]

I can't tell you how tasty that was, and I sure enjoyed it, especially while recovering from a triple bypass open heart surgery with a 99% blockage that I never even knew I had issues until the Springtime time to mow the lawn again, and, I'm working on 66, the Good Lord willing. Thanks and Blessings! Man, I've always loved Al Jackson Jr......... and miss him too! You Sir are a wonderful player!!!

[@stewartjean2066]

tmaddrummer good luck on your recovery!

[@groovewithpassiondrumlesso2348]

Excellent lesson Stuart! Rushing fills is very common with us drummers. Yes relaxing and taking a deep breath before the fill will help us to keep in the pocket. I’m going to practice this more and have my students do the same. Thanks again for sharing your expertise!

[@luisfernando-mm3jt]

Great lesson

[@greg.tallent]

Excellent teaching. Thank you.

[@stewartjean2066]

Greg Tallent thank you sir!

[@frozd58]

Stewart, i must say that i really enjoy your content. I like the message carried and this has really changed my playing for the best. This section about Fills is so spot on like the "rushing" feel. Thank you very much .

[@stewartjean2066]

Thank you so much! Glad my lesson has helped you. Yes, we must relax and breathe as we head into a fill no matter how simple or complex.

[@harrysmart6236]

That expresses the way it feels as you come up to a fill and then go into it better than I've ever heard. Exactly that thing, the building tension and stress as you come up to it. I tighten up, timing goes .. Just loop and loop, I guess, and be aware of what's happening. Thanks a lot for this.

[@davemathews4339]

Dang I dig your stuff, Stuart. Please keep it coming!!!

[@stewartjean2066]

Dave Mathews thanks for the support!

[@deepseadrumz1]

Thanks a million for sharing. Because the original recordings (drums) were somewhat "muddled" in the studio I could never figure out the length of the single stroke roll correctly when it started on the high tom. Thanks for breaking it down!

[@JeffKinght]

AWESOME

[@davemathews4339]

Oops, sorry for the spelling....

[@stewartjean2066]

Dave Mathews 👌🏼

[@stevenholquin2127]

Listen To The Bill Withers Album Still Bill Al Jackson Jr. at His Best Groove Pocket Reduced To Just What Is Absolutely Positively Necessary It’s Not About How Many Notes 🎶 You Can Cram in a 4/4 Measure Some Just Never Get it It’s About The Space in Between The Note That Makes The Difference Al Jackson Jr. Has a Back Story Which is Tragic He Gets Shot By His Wife After a Heated Argument and Survives Judge Ruled Self Defense Next Time Al Jackson Jr. Comes Home When He Was Not To Be Expected His Wife’s Lover Shoots Al Jackson Jr. Five Times Kills Al The Wife Claimed Robbery Yet Nothing Was Taken ! His Wife’s Lover Was Later Found in Seattle Washington almost 15 Years Later DNA 🧬 Tracked Down Al Jackson Jr. Wife’s Lover……Who Killed Al Jackson Jr.

[@tdrum21]

There’s some great tasty drumming on a lot of the Otis recordings. Really nice fills in there. Those Al Jackson Jr. Al Green grooves too are 🔥🎶