Learning how to play drum fills can feel like a huge undertaking when you're just starting out. When you listen to drummers like John Bonham, Phil Collins, Buddy Rich, or Steven Gadd, whose complex drum fills have changed the course of music history just as much as an Eddie Van Halen guitar solo, it can be hard to imagine ever playing drum fills like them.

The range of possibilities is endless, which is probably why it can feel overwhelming.

Of course, no matter how wild your technique gets, it’s all about context. Understanding the flow of the song and knowing when to pull back or go all in is half the battle. Timing and taste can be just as important as having solid hands.

While having the fundamentals down (rudiments, rhythm, and groove) is what will get you there, I recommend focusing on building up a toolbox of go-to fills. Getting comfortable with a handful of classic drum fills is one of the best ways to start, and once you’ve got them locked down, you’ll feel way more confident in the moment.

With that in mind, here are 10 iconic drum fills that every musician should have in their back pocket.

What is a Drum Fill?

So, what exactly is a drum fill?

At its core, a drum fill is a short break from the main drum beat or groove, designed to add some flavor, transition between sections, or highlight a moment in the music. You’ll often find drum fills leading into a chorus, breaking up a verse, or even closing out a song.

Essentially, a fill is your moment to take the spotlight (without stealing it, of course).

Drum fills aren’t a one-size-fits-all deal. They can be as simple as a single crash on the cymbal or as complex as a flurry of notes across the entire kit. Sometimes, a quick explosive fill with quarter notes is all you need to keep the song moving, while other times, you might want something bigger to really push into that next section.

They come in all shapes and sizes, and what works for one song might be completely wrong for another. The key is to have a range of drum fills ready to go, so you can always pick the right one for the moment.

10 Drum Fills Every Musician Should Know

1. The 8th-Note Build-Up

The 8th-note build-up drum fill is always one of the best fills to start on, as it's easy to play and can be used to indicate that you're going to a new section. There are a few ways you can play this fill:

• 8th notes on the floor tom and the snare drum (1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and) with your bass drum on quarter (1-2-3-4)
• 8th notes on the floor tom, snare drum, AND bass drum (great for ballads)

The important thing with this drum fill is knowing how to shape it. You don't want to come out swinging at full volume from the first hit. It’s all about the build. Start soft and gradually increase your intensity, or if you want to make a statement early, hit hard on the first note, pull back, and then push forward with a strong finish.

Learning to control that gradual rise in volume (a crescendo) or hitting hard and pulling back to a build (a sforzando) is the key to making this fill really work. It's simple but incredibly effective when you use it right.

2. Splat-Boom

A lot of drummers like to name their fills using mnemonic devices, and "Splat-Boom" is a perfect example of that. It’s a quick, simple fill that gets its name from the sound it makes. The “Splat” is the snare and the “Boom” is the kick. It’s basic, but it packs a punch and fits right in with tons of different grooves, especially in funk and disco.

This fill revolves around two key elements of the kit - the snare and the kick. You’re alternating between them, with a flammed snare hit on the downbeats and a kick on the upbeats. A flam is when you hit the snare with both sticks almost at the same time, but not quite. One stick hits just before the other, creating a thicker, more impactful drum sound than a single hit.

This drum fill is perfect for kicking off a song, especially if you're about to play something high-energy!

3. Pat Boone Debbie Boone

The "Pat Boone Debbie Boone" fill is one of those patterns that shows up everywhere. You can hear it in songs like "Give Me One Reason" by Tracy Chapman, "How’s It Going to Be" by Third Eye Blind, and "November Rain" by Guns 'N Roses, where it really stands out. It’s a super basic musical phrase, making it an easy one to pick up and add to your toolbox.

The name helps you remember the rhythm: "Pat Boone" covers the first part, which is a straightforward beat, while "Debbie Boone" represents the last two sixteenth notes, which are a little quicker.

This fill is perfect for smooth, tasteful transitions. It’s not meant to be a flashy or leading fill, but more of a subtle way to shift the main groove without stealing the spotlight. It’s short enough that the listener doesn’t think you’re about to jump into a new section, but it adds just the right amount of flair to keep things interesting.

4. My Girl Fill

The "My Girl" fill is one of the most iconic drum fills of all time, and while there are several variations of it, you can hear it most prominently on The Temptations’ "My Girl." Right from the intro, the Motown fill makes its mark and sets up the song beautifully. I would go as far to say if you're playing any Motown gig, it's a necessary fill to know.

This classic fill starts on the high tom and works its way around to the snare and the kick on the last beat in a smooth, flowing manner. It’s a simple descending pattern, but the way it’s played makes it so memorable and nostalgic.

What’s cool about this drum fill is that you can use the same sticking pattern for a sixth-stroke roll, which gives you a similar but slightly different vibe. You can hear this technique in the very beginning of The Temptations' "Ain’t Too Proud to Beg."

5. The Smells Like Teen Spirit

This actually isn't the drum fill you're probably thinking of!

One of the most famous drum fills in rock history happens right before the chorus in Nirvana’s "Smells Like Teen Spirit." It’s that big, explosive 16th-note snare fill Dave Grohl plays to get us from the verse to the chorus. In the video above, you can hear it around :57.

The fill itself is super simple, just 12 solid 16th-note hits on the snare into a bass drum hit and snare flam, but it’s incredibly effective at building anticipation.

You could theoretically keep that 16th-note snare going all the way to the chorus as well.

Chad Smith uses just the snare drum on the pre-chorus drum fill in "Dani California."

What makes this fill work so well is its straightforward power. It doesn’t need to be fancy or complex because the placement and dynamic punch do all the heavy lifting. It signals to the listener that something big is about to happen, and is a perfect example of how sometimes less really is more, especially in rock music.

6. The Sextuplet Fill

The sextuplet drum fill is incredibly versatile. You can use it in just about any context. And while it's been heard in countless songs, one of the first ones that comes to mind is "Come Together" by The Beatles.

Ringo Starr kind of helped make this drum fill famous, and it eventually became a defining element of his drumming style. This fill is built around quick six-note groupings that flow smoothly across the drum kit, creating a fluid and rolling feel.

To really dial in this fill, I recommend working on your single-stroke triplets. Getting those triplets smooth and even will make a huge difference when you start to speed up and add the full sextuplets.

Once you're comfortable with the basic pattern, try moving around the toms in different ways, switching up your drum with each group of six notes.

7. Bucket of Fish

The "Bucket of Fish" fill is another classic that uses a mnemonic device to help remember the pattern (shoutout to Stephen Taylor for this one - I never had a name for it until now!). You’ve heard it all over the place, whether you realized it or not. It’s one of those fills that pops up in everything from rock to pop to jazz because it’s quick, punchy, and gets the job done.

It’s even great for those little breaks between songs when the room’s getting a bit too quiet, and you’re feeling the itch to play something. This fill has a lot of flexibility, but the most common way to play it is with the sticking pattern: right-left-right-kick. It’s a fast, simple fill that works perfectly to spice up a groove or give a quick, tasteful break. You can move it around the kit in endless ways, but that basic pattern is the foundation.

Drum Fills That Fit

The best drum fills are the ones that fit the song just right.

A great drummer knows when to keep it simple and when to bring out the fireworks. By building an arsenal of fills like the ones we’ve talked about, you’ll always have something ready to complement the music, no matter the style or genre you’re playing.

Whether it’s rock, funk, jazz, or pop, having a solid range of patterns to choose from makes you more versatile and confident in any gig.

At the end of the day, drum fills are used to add personality and energy to a track without overdoing it (unless you're Neil Pert). So, keep practicing, experiment with your fills, and find your own groove.