John Bonham was a master at applying triplet patterns all around the kit to create monstrous drum fills. It's one of John's primary licks that has been imitated time and time again by the many drummers he's insprired. One of the best examples of this intense triplet fill is found just after the guitar solo on the song "Dazed and Confused" from the band's self-titled debut album.

Before diving into the entire four-measure drum fill, it's important to get comfortable playing a triplet pattern that alternates beween the hands and feet. Start by playing the first two notes of each triplet on the snare leading with your left hand, and playing the third note of each triplet on the kick.

Once you can play this pattern very evenly and up to tempo, try moving your hands around the kit. This example starts on the snare for the first triplet pattern, moves to the rack tom for the second triplet, and down to the floor tom on beat 3, then back to rhe rack tom on beat 4.

Now that we have the basic pattern down, let's look at the second half of the measure, where we have the right hand crossing over the left when it moves from the floor tom to the rack tom. Your hands then uncross on beat 4. This exercise repeats that motion so you become comfortable with crossing your hands back and forth. This will take some getting used to, so practice it slowly at first.

Now put it all together, and you'll be plying the famous four-bar triplet fill that Bonham played on the original recording....