August 02, 2013 "You can play the song without the fills, but you can't play the fills without the song. Start with the basic function of the part as it relates to the song, then gradually add in the nuances of slight variations before finally adding the fills. Then you will understand better WHY the fills work in the song/ part the way that they do, you will understand the ins and outs of the song, and, most importantly, you'll be able to play the whole song through. The fills are like the gargoyles on the Notre Dame. They're very cool, but they need the rest of the church to raise them up, and the church needs its strong foundation to support it all. Start from the foundation and build upward."
