We all like a good odd time signature now and then. But I really enjoy inserting "odd" figures into regular time signatures. I think I started by inadvertently throwing 5s and 7s into fills. I would start with a "normal" fill with 16th notes or some form of triplet, then I'd quickly realize I'd have to either speed up or slow down to land on a righthand crash on the one. ...Then at some point later I realized I had actually played a 5- or 7-note figure.
Lately, I've also been trying to insert those figures into the beat, not just the fill.
So here's a really simple example. A straight 4/4 beat with some 5-note figures thrown in. Then a bunch of fills, with 5s and then some 5s + 7s. Try it. You don't really have to count. Just speed up or slow down a little and land on the beat.
Oh, one thing: Maybe avoid a 5 within a beat if a bandmate is playing 16th notes. :)
Equipment:
-DW drums
-Zildjian cymbals
-AKG D112 kick drum mic
-Blue Hummingbird mics for overheads
-Blue Hummingbird and Shure SM57 for the snare
-Apogee Element88 D/A
-Logic Pro X
-iPhone for video
-Final Cut Pro for video editing