This month we’re taking a look at some basic American shuffle grooves. We’ll begin with a groove to be played with the hands. Then we’ll offer a list of bass drum options. When you practice these grooves, a strong sense of time is paramount, it’s important to practice with a metronome. A metronome will show you what your tendencies are at various tempos. You can also use a different external sound source such as a sequencer or audio track, instead of a metronome, provided its time is solid. All of the grooves in this section have the traditional shuffle pattern, which can be played on the high hat or ride cymbal. The snare is played on beats 2 and 4, which is often referred to as the “backbeat.” We’re starting with these basic shuffle grooves to begin your journey into the triplet world. Ghost notes are introduced on the snare […]

March 2023 Issue