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Slap Bass – Shuffle Grooves

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This video course will examine the challenges of playing slapped lines over the shuffle feel. Shuffle grooves are based on a triplet subdivision, where the beat naturally divides into three, rather than two or four. This gives the music a very different feel. For examples of slapped shuffle grooves, listen to 'Higher Ground' by Red Hot Chili Peppers, 'Lopsy Lu' by Stanley Clarke and 'Heathrow' by Level 42.

When playing over the shuffle feel you’ll probably find that many of your favourite slap and pop fills and grooves don’t work, or at least will need to be adapted. Because of this, it is a good idea to practise the slap technique over this feel. It’s also a good idea to keep a mental repertoire of grooves, fills and solo figures that work well in this feel - these exercises will be a great help in that regard.

Note that shuffle grooves can either be written in 4/4 time using triplets, or in 12/8 time, where the beat naturally divides into three. Both time signatures are used in the notation of these exercises.

If you require additional help with any of the techniques used in this piece, the following courses (all included in the monthly subscription cost) should prove useful:

Don’t forget to hit the Download Resources button above to get the PDF worksheet and audio files for this piece (available to subscribers only). The worksheet is available with TAB and without, for those who wish to give their reading skills a workout.

This course is 32 MINUTES long and contains the following videos, each of which can be selected from the video player above:

1. Introduction

This video will explain the shuffle feel and demonstrate it using Flea's slapped bass groove on the Red Hot Chili Peppers cover version of 'Higher Ground’.

2. Exercise #1

This exercise has a strong triplet feel and is similar in style to both 'Lopsy Lu' by Stanley Clarke and 'Heathrow' by Level 42 (Mark King on bass).

3. Exercise #2

This exercise features some strummed power chords and another very obvious triplet rhythm. The ghost note figures in the second half reinforce the triplet feel.

4. Exercise #3

This groove features rapid-fire double popping lines and fretting hand slaps. There's also an unusual fill where groupings of four notes are played across a triplet rhythm.

5. Exercise #4

This exercise makes use of some double stop power chords, which are played by popping the D and G-strings simultaneously with the first and second fingers.

6. Exercise #5

This exercise also features some double-popped power chords and is based in the key of E minor. The line begins on a Bb, the 'blue note' from the E blues scale.

7. Exercise #6

This is blues-influenced slap groove that is heavy on chord tones from the implied E7 chord. The fill in the fourth bar has groups of two notes played with a triplet rhythm.

8. Exercise #7

This exercise is in the key of A minor and includes some double-popped figures, which can be challenging to play accurately over the shuffle feel.