Syncopated Bass in a Rock Shuffle
Enjoy this 2-bar groove that lays down some syncopated bass and ghosted snare strokes for flair.
The first bar of this up-beat rock shuffle fills in the “empty space” with 3 successive ghost strokes. This ghosting technique adds another sound layer to the groove making it both fuller-sounding and more interesting to the listener.
The second bar uses a syncopated bass drum technique. Placing a bass stroke smack-dab in the middle of a triplet is a great way to add a more rhythmic, syncopated element to a shuffle. However, this technique doesn’t necessarily “fit” every song calling for a rock shuffle. Be sure to use syncopation wisely or you risk throwing off the song.
You can make this groove a heavier rock shuffle by playing it with a sloshy (i.e. loose) hi-hat and bringing out beats 2 and 4 with a rim shot. It’s also fun to experiment by moving the hi-hat stick to different surfaces, such as the ride, ride bell or even a floor tom. Have fun experimenting with this groove!
Author
Publisher of OnlineDrummer.com, Alfred Publishing author, Ddrum artist, and veteran Drum! Magazine contributor, Nate earned his Bachelor of Arts in Education at John Carroll University and Master of Arts in Education at the University of Findlay.
