Shuffle question

[drums_from_hell]

hey guys.. can someone please explain to me the idea of a shuffle?? it would be helpful wit tabs as well.. and wat songs have shuffles in them?? thanks

[White Riot!]

Geez kids today.....

wait for Josiah to explain it to you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeKuk0ZVCSk

[We_Love_Lime]

http://drummerworld.com/Videos/dennischamberspearl.html
Shuffle...



Fool In The Rain has a shuffle groove.

[DxRocker]

C 1tt2tt3tt4tt
H X-xX-xX-xX-x
S ---x-----x--
B x-----x-----

That's somewhat the basic concept. There are LOADS of variations on this though... But generally, when asked to play a shuffle, the above is the basic shuffle that will be played. Based on three's and the hats are played on the firs and last beat of each triplet.

Shuffles are found a lot in blues. Some funk and r&b stuff also holds quite some shuffle and half time shuffle grooves.

[Retarded Chipple]

I just see it as a triplet with the 2nd beat ommited.

i.e

Triplet: 1-trip-let-2-trip-let-3-trip-let-4-trip-let sounds like this: (i've accented the 1st note of the triplet to show you where each one starts)

|1tt2tt3tt4tt|
|XxxXxxXxxXxx|

take the second beat of the triplet out and it should look and sound like this:

|1tt2tt3tt4tt|
|X-xX-xX-xX-x|

^that there is a shuffle


EDIT: pretty much expanded on what everyone else has said!

[dairyairman]

there are millions of shuffle based songs, mostly in the jazz and blues genres. a favorite of mine is "cold shot" by stevie ray vaughan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXK45qKgLyQ

[billdrum]

Yeah, too many variations to explain here in one post......Basically a shuffle is a triplet based groove with a strong backbeat on 2 & 4. They're found alot in blues, country, rock, jazz, everywhere really. Stevie Ray Vaughn's "Pride & Joy" is a good blues shuffle, Toto's "Rosanna" and Zepellin's "Fool In The Rain" are half-time shuffles, ZZ Top's "Lagrange" and "Tush" are Texas style rock/blues shuffles, Thin Lizzies "Boys Are Back In Town" is a rock shuffle......you get the idea.

[DxRocker]

Rosanna is a true legend :)

[Josiah]

Oooh such a great song!

One of the best feeling shuffles ever recorded IMO

[billdrum]

I love Porcaro's playing all around, but yes, Rosanna's spectacular for its feel.

[Josiah]

Damm the carrots. Damm them.

[billdrum]

lol

[Josiah]

haha only the over 30 club gets that one... haha just kiddin man!

[Pleaseme]

Ahhh yes, Rosanna makes me tingley all over!

Especially when Zoro is playing it live in front of you :p

[White Riot!]

I like the africa shuffle more

[billdrum]

Africa's not a shuffle, sorry to say. The background to that is clearly 16th notes with a syncopated feel.

[White Riot!]

What? Its triplets dude

[billdrum]

Nope

[billdrum]

Listen to the hi-hats.....16ths

[We_Love_Lime]

The Meters- Africa?

[billdrum]

Toto

[White Riot!]

Listen to the hi-hats.....16ths

Swung to the effect of 16th note triplets...

[billdrum]

No, actually they're not. There's alot of syncopation in there, but its 16th notes with a latin feel. I've played it and I've seen the arrangement. I'm done arguing. Somebody (Josiah?) back me up?

[White Riot!]

http://www.toto99.com/jeff/images/notafr.gif

It is indeed sixteenth notes but its extremely swung to give an effect of a shufflesque sound

I was wrong about the trips

[billdrum]

If you say so.

[White Riot!]

well he doesnt exactly keep it straight on the hats does he?

[billdrum]

pretty much.....get out the recording and listen.

[We_Love_Lime]

Toto

lame.

[billdrum]

Lame? If we all played with half the sense of groove and feel that Jeff Porcaro played with, the world would be a better place!

[We_Love_Lime]

Well I was hoping it was the Meters - Africa, not Toto - Africa.
Because I like the Meters - Africa a lot, but I haven't heard this Toto - Africa.

[White Riot!]

your kidding me , right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4egyR-mACA

[Josiah]

Well the 16ths are pretty straight.. it all has a very soft feel for sure. The samba'isque kick makes it have a loopy feel. Da - dada-- da -- dada.

The quarter note pulse is so hard hitting that the secondary kick note really flips things on the listener. Those 16ths are straight up and down, though buried in the mixed. It's the whole rhythmic picture and surrounding music that gives it that hypnotic feel, wich is very much like the feel a shuffel generates. Though it's deffintely not a shuffle of any kind.

Fantastic song as well though.

[CARMEN77]

your kidding me , right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4egyR-mACA

what a gay music video and song

[Happy_Squirrel]

what a gay music video and song

I've seen gayer. You have to remember that the video is rather dated.

I used to think this kind of music was gay. It's not my style, but I'll give those guys props for doing something original and playing it with precision and taste.