Producing Fills: Fill Theory, Tension and Release

Producing Fills: Fill Theory, Tension and Release
Fills are the addition of notes or the subtraction of notes with any instrument. Doesn't have to be just drums. Fills create the tension needed to take the listener into the next part of the song - arrangement.
This short tutorial clip is about Fills and Fill Theory. This is my take on moving the listener through the song with tension and release. About every 4 bars you can create some type of fill.
Please add your thoughts to the comments! What drives the listener in your tunes?
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[@KJSawkaOfficial]

How do you approach fills in your songs? How do you keep the listener engaged in your song?

[@spencerrobinson780]

I usually have my first fill after 4 bars that subtracts from the beat, then consecutive fills increasingly complex

[@KJSawkaOfficial]

thast dope! @@spencerrobinson780

[@spencerrobinson780]

@@KJSawkaOfficial I try and borrow techniques from techno but in more upbeat tunes 🤓

[@GaryMillerNL]

Another great video, KJ!

[@KJSawkaOfficial]

thx Garyyy!!

[@spencerrobinson780]

Lot of handy tips in this one 👌 .
I had an idea you might like, in moviemaking people use the terms "J cut and L Cut" to identify cuts that happen before and after a scene starts(respectively).
This same naming system could be used to differentiate between fills too. J fills would start before the bar and stop, L fills would start at the 1 and continue into the bar. Finally "T" fills could be used to describe fills that start before and continue through the start of a section.
Just an idea though

[@spencerrobinson780]

It could also apply to target beats you want to emphasize too, doesn't have to be the bar line.

[@KJSawkaOfficial]

That's pretty awesome Spencer. any tips from movie sound scorers are def good. I have a term called 'beatfill' which is a fill that is still in the motion of the beat, so it doesn't disrupt the beat flow. Giving a fills placment a def term is kinda cool

[@spencerrobinson780]

@KJSawkaOfficial I totally know what you mean by "beatfill". Some fills sound like they cut out of the beats and add something new, like a collage vs blending with the groove and adding some variety.
Psyched for your stream tomorrow, you rock Kj!