One of My Favourite Drum Fills

Ramon ‘Tiki’ Fulwood was the drummer responsible for one of my favourite drum fills. You can hear it at the beginning of the Funkadelic tune ‘Good Old Music’. It was the first track (on side 2) of their 1970 album ‘Funkadelic’.

One of My Favourite Drum Fills – Love Rears It’s Ugly Head

I first heard this drum fill whilst listening to the remix of  ‘Love Rears It’s Ugly Head’ by Living Colour. It took a while for me to realise that it wasn’t actually Will Calhoun simply playing a different version of the song but in fact, it was a sample of the fill (and groove) from ‘Good Old Music’.

Furthermore it seems others like this too. You can find this particular groove is in the top 100 classic sampled Hip Hop grooves.

Into the Groove

What makes it one of my favourite drum fills is it’s syncopation that leads you nicely into the groove – Ramon ‘Tikki’ Fulwood sure can groove hard! Arguably it’s a motown style drum fill which complements the groove as opposed to distracting you from it. Furthermore, this type of Motown drum fills appear to work in any genre of music. In other words, they never sound out of place. Subsequently, they’re fun to play! and versatile.

The Sticking

It sounds as though Ramon ‘Tikki’ Fulwood’s sticking for this drum fill is –

• R = Right Hand
• L = Left Hand
• K = Kick Drum/Right Foot

(N.B. Written for right handed players, if left handed, reverse the lettering)

However, not being at the recording I can’t be certain. Arguably, this is the easiest way to play the drum fill because your hands stay in the same position (relatively) to the drums. Especially when leading with your right hand.

What’s your Favourite Drum Fill?

What’s your favourite drum fill?

Let me know in the comments section below!