Shuffling

Quote:

---

Originally posted by shedder:
that shuffle groove is everything but fluid. he plays with no dynamics and the swung notes sound to machine like.

---

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I guess we have different definitions of fluid. When I say "fluid" I consider the following:

-Equally spaced strokes.
-In the case of a shuffle, the consistency of volume on the hi-hat, backbeat and ghost notes.
-How well the drummer keeps the pace when including fills.

Now this is all done close to perfection in my ears. Of course we can argue about taste...I understand what you mean when you say machine like. But in this case, I admire it. He could just keep going all night and any band would have a solid time keeper to lean on!

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 01, 2004 01:08 AM: Message edited by: Suspiria ]</font>

Hey, Johnny!

You did fine on your video.

These half-time shuffles are it! Aren't they?
I think they are very important to work on and
all the time, placing strokes all over the pat-
tern, especially on the kick.

I also agree that it is important to control
the dynamic level of the pattern, creating as
much contrast as possible. The best way to do
this is to do it SLOWER.

I am sure you will sound great doing it. Give
it a try, knocking your tempo down to 120-130.
Really relax and key your strokes very close to
the drum. I am anxious to see it!

Play on, man!!

[img]cool.gif[/img]

Nice playing Johnny, cheers for sharing the vid. I have to agree with moosetication as far as it feeling a bit forced. Remember the expression "we sound how we look?" well you're making it looking bloody hard!!
My only comment would be to relax, lighten up and enjoy it. Your right hand seemed a bit stiff and dynamically it was louder than the other voices. It sounds great to me, I would just relax on it. Not only will this improve the sound and feel of the rhythm. but it will save you getting RSI or tendonitis if you carry on playing that way.
For a great example of a phenominal shuffle feel that it so light and bouncy, check out Mel Lewis on The Groove Merchant. Also Buddy could shuffle his arse off with the intensity of an express train and keep it controlled at a low volume.

Cheers [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 01, 2004 10:24 AM: Message edited by: Dazzler ]</font>

Nice. Did you program it "longhand" or hook it up to a keyboard (or download a MIDI file)?
----------------------------------------------
I just sat down, played on a little keyboard that has midi capability and started feeling some different chord progressions with some easy melodies. ... I might do a video with audio sometime in the future. Its nothing compared to what Akira Jimbo or Tony Verderosa have out, but its a pretty good start for a little td6 module. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Oh.. Yeah Dennis sure has the groove down [img]wink.gif[/img]

Thanks a bunch

Is chambers playing that rlr rlr L/r-lr rlr like porcaro? The way he's playing it, it kind of sounds to my ears more like rll rll Rll rll.

Sounds great though, and I love the stuff he's doing between ride and hihat.

I agree rudy. He's got some sweet chops!
I think I here the hi-hat hitting with the snare(at the beginning) and not the rll rll Rll version that you might be hearing.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by shedder:
oh my, chambers is not a good example of a great shuffle drummer (especially on that clip!). can someone say jeff porcaro?

---

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Now if the hi-hat part didnt have the distinct shuffle sound to it, or would sound like normal 8ths then I would agree. But this groove is very fluid. Not sure you can critisize something there, or am I misssing something.

I realize hes not famous for his shuffles, but this clip serves as a good example. Wouldnt you say?

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 01, 2004 12:38 AM: Message edited by: Suspiria ]</font>

that shuffle groove is everything but fluid. he plays with no dynamics and the swung notes sound to machine like.

Johnny, in my distraction with the chambers clip, I forgot to say, nice playing [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

thanks for sharing...sounds good to me.

Dennis is great, but for shuffle inspiration, I would go to the source:

Check out:

Babylon Sisters - Steely Dan (Purdie)
Home at Last- Steely Dan (Purdie)
Heatwave- Martha & the Vendellas (Pistol Allen)
...and anything by Art Blakey

I'll bet no one on the planet could come close to Pistol on "Heatwave"...

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 01, 2004 03:34 PM: Message edited by: cjbdrm ]</font>