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 is a graduate of John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio and holds a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Findlay.
