The perfect bass guitar fill grabs your attention out of nowhere and puts a great big smile on your face. You should always focus on laying down a groove but fills are am important part of bass playing. When you know how to deploy them properly, you gain control of an incredibly powerful tool you can use in all your bass lines.
Check out the video for a full run down of five amazing bass fills.
Bass Fill #1
Stu Hamm on Lights of Heaven by Joe Satriani. By the way, this whole album is a must listen if you want to learn about modes in context. Stu's playing is stellar throughout.
Bass Fill #2
Tony Levin on Digging in The Dirt by Peter Gabriel. Pure class - just two simple notes played with an octave pedal.
Bass Fill #3
Louis Johnson and Greg Phillinganes on P.Y.T. by Michael Jackson. A double whammy here with Louis executing funky octave slap fills whilst Greg launches into my favourite bass fill of all time (even if it is played on a synth).
Bass Fill #4
Pino at his outrageous best.
Bass Fill #5
You will rarely hear a song played with as much beauty and grace as this one by Oteil Burbridge playing for the Tedeschi Trucks Band. The entire song is a masterclass in supporting the song with complete freedom.
Remember to use your ear when working out fills you like the sound of. Figure out what chords they work over and then start using them. Don't play over other instruments - ESPECIALLY the vocals - use good taste, timing, and aim for the ends of phrases. You won't go far wrong with those guidelines.
