Chapter 2: Intermediates
Rhythm & Sync: Shuffle Articulation

Objective: To examine an approach to playing Shuffle Feels and applying some dynamics in the articulation

In playing the first shuffle feel we want to be in two places at one time. That is.......we want to play a rhythm with the drummer that feels like we are playing a straight quarter note feel while at the same time playing off beat eighth notes that provide syncopation and counterpoint.

Look at Example #5-1 and you will see the first part of the shuffle feel which is the straight quarter notes. In Example #5-2 we can see the second part of the phrase which are the syncopated eighth notes. When we combine the two in Example #5-3 we should start to feel the difference in the pulse between this feeling (with a triplet feel) and the feeling of playing just straight eighth notes. We should play only the first and last notes of each triplet (ghost the middle or second notes) and it should feel and sound as evenly played as the previous four measures with the emphasis on the first downbeat of each eighth note triplet.

Example #5-4 will give you some different approaches to playing the same musical phrase with different feelings. These should work independent from the drummers beat. In other words, you should learn to play these with the same amount of conviction no matter which beat the drummer is playing. Always start out slowly to get the mechanics of counting and executing the notes properly then try to play the music as steady as possible. Your quarter notes should always fall right on the beat with the metronome.

Finally, be sure to read and apply the dynamic markings that are a very important part of the music. They will act as a guide to let you know when to play soft (piano) or loud (forte) and different variations and degrees of dynamic articulation.

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