▁fills ▁tend ▁to ▁be ▁varied ▁over ▁the ▁course ▁of ▁a ▁song . ▁For ▁example , ▁a ▁drum mer ▁may ▁fill ▁in ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁one ▁phrase ▁with ▁a ▁six teenth ▁note ▁hi - hat ▁pattern , ▁and ▁then ▁fill ▁in ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁next ▁phrase ▁with ▁a ▁sn are ▁drum ▁figure . ▁▁▁ ▁In ▁drum ming , ▁a ▁fill ▁is ▁defined ▁as ▁a ▁" short ▁break ▁in ▁the ▁gro ove -- a ▁l ick ▁that ▁' fill s ▁in ▁the ▁g aps ' ▁of ▁the ▁music ▁and / or ▁signals ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁a ▁phrase . ▁It ' s ▁kind ▁of ▁like ▁a ▁mini - sol o ." ▁A ▁fill ▁may ▁be ▁played ▁by ▁rock ▁or ▁pop ▁instruments ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁electric ▁lead ▁guitar ▁or ▁bass , ▁organ , ▁or ▁drums , ▁or ▁by ▁other ▁instruments ▁such ▁as ▁strings ▁or ▁horn s . ▁In ▁bl ues ▁or ▁swing - style ▁sc at ▁singing , ▁a ▁fill ▁may ▁even ▁be ▁s ung . ▁In ▁a ▁hip - h op ▁group , ▁a ▁fill ▁may ▁consist ▁of ▁rh yth mic ▁tur nt able ▁scratch ing ▁performed ▁by ▁a ▁DJ . ▁ ▁" F ills ▁can ▁vary ▁as ▁to ▁style , ▁length , ▁and ▁dynamics ... [ though ] ▁most ▁fills ▁are ▁simple ▁in ▁structure ▁and ▁short ▁in ▁duration " ▁Each ▁type ▁of ▁popular ▁music ▁such ▁as ▁fun k , ▁country , ▁and ▁metal ▁has ▁characteristic ▁fill ▁pass ages , ▁such ▁as ▁short ▁scalar ▁l icks , ▁runs , ▁or ▁r iffs . ▁ ▁Mus