A fill-in is a short change placed at the end of a section or just before a transition. It often refers to a busier drum phrase, but you can also make one with bass, chords, or sound effects.
The basic idea
A fill-in is a signal that the next bar or section is starting. Changing only the last beat or the last bar adds variation without stopping the flow.
Its role in writing and performing
Using one before moving from the intro into the first verse, from the verse into the chorus, or before the beat returns after a break, makes the development of the song easier to follow.
How to try it in a DAW
Duplicate your basic drum pattern and add a snare, tom, or crash on the last beat only. The key is not to cram in notes and not to get in the way of the kick on the next downbeat.
Difference from related terms
A fill-in is a short cue for a change, while an interlude or a break is a larger structural section. The place where you put a fill-in also becomes the boundary of a phrase.
Even a small fill-in helps a song connect naturally. Start by trying one at the end of every four bars.
