drum fill
A short, improvised or composed rhythmic passage that bridges sections of a song.
In Depth
Drum fills serve as musical punctuation marks, signalling transitions between verses and choruses, building intensity before a climax, or providing rhythmic variation within repetitive patterns. Great fills serve the song rather than showcase the drummer. A fill that perfectly sets up the chorus can be worth more than the most technically impressive solo. Fills range from a single snare flam to elaborate multi-bar passages incorporating all drums and cymbals.
Ringo Starr's drum fills are studied by musicians precisely because of their simplicity and musicality; every fill serves the song perfectly, never drawing attention away from the music.