Ok, how many of you FULLY utilize drum fills when performing? Do you just hop from variation to variation when changing song sections (or worse yet, just stay on a single variation thru the entire tune) or do you trigger a drum fill lead in before each new song section & variation change?

Aside from the rare tune which requires only one simple style with no fills or drum variation changes at all, good drummers mix up the rhythms (variations) and include drum fills that lead into the NEXT section.

This being said, I'm curious just how you guys trigger drum fills and variation changes.

1) Do you utilize a foot controler pedal to trigger changes or manually press the fill button and/or variation buttons by hand?

2) At what point(s) in a song do you routinely trigger fills and/or variation changes?

3) Do you use the mulitpad drum assignments to add additional drum hits (cymbal crash, snare, etc) to even more of a live feeling?

4) On exactly WHAT beat of the last measure preceding the variation change do you try to trigger the fill to begin?

5) Any tricks to share re: drum fill/variation change arranger KB playing techniques?

Here's what I do: For casual performances, I just use my left (and sometimes right hand) to trigger the variation change/auto fill buttons. For songs that utilize reg memory, the fills automatically take place at every song section variation change (reg seq advance).When I utilize the MFC10 multi foot pedal controler, I have more flexibility to trigger fills at will, while my hands are playing the keyboard. Because of this, I can more easily add fills not at only the section changes, but sometimes at 4 bar or even 2 bar intervals in some circustances. There are even some places where I will just hold the fill button (pedal) down continously for a dramatic loop fill which can last 2 to 4 measures. This is especially useful for a dramatic section or buildup in a song. I also like to add a drum hit (crash) occasionally to add more spontaneity, but it gets difficult when you're trying to juggle everything else at the same time. It sure would be great if the Mulitpads could be triggered via foot pedal controler instead of only manually. I've suggested to Yamaha that they implement this in the dedicated foot control assignment or via midi activation via the MFC10. Ok, I'm interested now in hearing how you guys utilize the fills & variation changes in performance. Also, I usually attempt to trigger the drum fill on beat 2 of the previous measure before a variation change, especially when doing this with my hands, because I need to be playing the chord on beat 1. I then depress the damper pedal to hold that chord before reaching for the fill/variation button. Mastering these techniques both manually or by foot is a unique arranger playing specific technique that requires practice. Curious how others of you have mastered this.

Looking forward to getting some discussion going about different people's arranger keyboard 'PLAYING TECHNIQUES' etc. Hopefully we can use this opportunity to share arranger playing secrets as well.

Scott