Shuffles..Light to Hard

[acubass]

I would like to get some input on the general differences between light, medium, and hard shuffles.

When I hear play a shuffle i play either-

-----2-2--5-5--2-2--
-3-3-----------------

or

------5-5---3-3-----------
-------------------5-5----
3-3---------------------

Where do the degrees of shuffles come in?

Thanks Much

[onlyclave]

Shuffle is more of a rhythmic feel than a note choice. To me it feels more herky-jerky than swing which is smoother and more laid back. Swing eighth notes translate (closely) to 8th note triplets grouped 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 where shuffle is more dotted eighth - 16th notes. The trick here is how to treat the dot on the eighth note: it doesn't necessarily make the note longer, it detaches the note from the 16th note. Soft, medium and hard shuffles have increasing amounts of detachment of the dotted 8th-16th. The 16th note becomes an increasingly stronger pickup note to the next dotted 8th.

I should also point out that you need to accent beats 2 and 4 to make it sound really hip.

Listen to some Thad Jones and Mel Lewis jazz orchestra to hear what I call East Coast Swing but some might call a shuffle, especially "The Groove Merchant" and "Big Dipper" on Central Park North.

[VroomVroom]

Good info above. Harmonically, there are dozens of variations. Using your examples, the first one would work in just about every song form/chord shape. The second one is great as well, but you wouldn't want to use it against sixth-chords.

A good shuffle can just stay at home on the root of the chord, it can use a chromatic walk-up from the sixth (i.e. G-E-F-F#), or many other options. Rhytmically, you'll want to really lock in with what the drummer is doing - both the kick and snare are important, but the true "lope" of the groove will focus on his hi-hat/ride cymbal (and sometimes snare) and where he places that dotted-eighth note.