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Shuffle Grooves

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In this video course we’re going to continue our study of different feels and take a look at 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, I recommend listening 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 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.

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 are used in the notation of these exercises.

1 - INTRODUCTION

In this video I'll be explaining the shuffle feel and demonstrating it using Flea's slapped bass groove on the Red Hot Chili Peppers classic song '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.

3 - EXERCISE #2

This exercise features some strummed power chords and another very obvious triplet rhythm.

4 - EXERCISE #3

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

5 - EXERCISE #4

This exercise makes use of some 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 E dominant seventh chord. The fill in the fourth bar features groups of two notes played with a triplet rhythm, making for an interesting fill.

8 - EXERCISE #7

This exercise is in the key of A minor and for the most part is built on the A minor pentatonic scale. It also includes some double-popped figures, which can be challenging to play accurately over the shuffle feel.