Figuring out where to place fills

[paf77]

Hey everyone I'm just curious what your approaches are with how often you do fills and where you put them. If you want to do a bass fill in say the chorus of a song, do you often repeat that same fill in every chorus or do a different fill in all the choruses? I don't want my fills to be monotonous, so I try to vary them and I usually like to keep it pretty simple so I don't make things too busy sounding. I still have tons to learn though with this and it's the main thing right now that I want to focus on. I have lots of respect for bassists that come up with creative fills that seem to fit perfectly and be in just the right spot. Any help is much appreciated! Thanks guys!

[BigOldHarry]

First: When in doubt, do no fill. Busy bassists are like busy drummers: EVIL.
Second: When you DO execute a fill, I try to coordinate with other musicians - the drummer being my favorite.
Third: Remember that your role is to serve the song, not the other way around.

[paf77]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

First: When in doubt, do no fill. Busy bassists are like busy drummers: EVIL.
Second: When you DO execute a fill, I try to coordinate with other musicians - the drummer being my favorite.
Third: Remember that your role is to serve the song, not the other way around.

I agree with all of that totally. And when I feel like a fill isn't working out for some reason, it always seems best to just leave it out. One of the hardest things for me to learn was to keep things from being way too busy.

[dragon6]

Fills are not little solos, they should belong to the song. I mean it should fit the type of song you play. I try to coordinate with my drummer for the really big leadin's and leadout's. They sound better when played together.
Now as bassist's we lead the changes most times. IE. we lead up to the next chord or we fall down to the next chord. We also lead out of the chorus or into it. My point here is the way you lead into or out of the chord changes is also where you can create great lines or fills.
Also your response to the words of a song can well be used to create or release tension. Basically going up the scale you create tension, going down you release the tension. And from time to time throw some humor in it.(Popeye the Sailor is a good one)ha ha!
Dynamics are and incredible tool as well. When a good band has their song dynamics together it's a great sound. It make's the song live and breath more.

[paf77]

Thanks for the help so far!

[joebar]

knowing where to place licks is something that comes with practice and over time, you will develop an ear for what is tasteful and what is just bass vanity.
remember absence of notes is important especially when there is a cool lick approaching.

[bassandbeyond]

The older I get, the less I feel compelled to insert fills generally. Nowadays, I try to only play what I really HEAR in my head as suitable at any given time. If I'm not hearing a fill, I shouldn't play one. Also, be careful to avoid stepping on the melody, or on somebody else's fill. Most of the holes in the melody are usually already filled by another instrument, so pick your spots carefully.

[boomtisk]

Usually, it sounds/feels best to me when the drummer and the bass player are working together when inserting fills. Like, when I hear that my drummer decided to throw in a fill, I like to join in and add a little run before landing on the "one" and I like it when I start playing a fill and he does the same, even if it is something as simple as adding an extra snare hit. Bonus points for when the runs the both of you are playing resemble each other rhytmically. In my opinion, fills work best when there's enough space in the music i. e. the singer is shutting up for a few beats or you want to create tension, i. e. when the song is about to segue from one part to the next.

Of course there's also those types of songs where the bass part is very rigid and it sounds "wrong" if you deviate from it so the drummer is the only one who can get away with throwing in fills. Needless to say, figuring out when this is the case is up to you. I agree with pretty much everonye who already posted that in the end, playing what is right for the song is what counts.

[bigblondeafro87]

Think of counterpoint in classical music for your 'fills'. IMO fills are for drums, bass is supposed to be a continuous train of thought and a big 'fill' is like saying "HERE COMES THE LAST CHORUS".

[DeeDeeEntwistle]

How are fills just for drums?

I think if used correctly bass fills can make your lines work extremely well and add character.

In my band i'd say i use feels in at least one part of the song on 9 outta 10 songs.