Drums · Level 8 · Soul and rock
Half-time shuffle
Don’t just read about the half-time shuffle. Play it.
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A shuffle with ghost notes on the middle triplet and the backbeat on 2 and 4, made famous by studio drummers in the 1970s.
Tap an instrument name to mute it and play that part yourself.
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a steady groove.
- Press play and listen to the whole groove twice before you play.
- Mute every row except the hi-hat (or ride) and play along with the rest. Hands alternate: hi-hat on the outer triplets, ghost notes in the middle.
- Add the bass drum, then the snare, one part at a time.
- Set the tempo to 59 BPM and play the full groove four times without stopping.
- Raise the tempo to 84 BPM once it feels easy.
- Record a take and listen for a rolling triplet feel with a clear backbeat.
Listen for
Aim for a rolling triplet feel with a clear backbeat. A common mistake is accenting the ghost notes; keep them very soft.
Why it works
Filling the gaps of a shuffle with ghost notes makes it feel like constant motion.
Questions
How do you count the half-time shuffle?
It is in 12/8 feel. Count 1 trip let 2 trip let 3 trip let 4 trip let for each bar.
What tempo should I practise the half-time shuffle at?
Start around 59 BPM and work up to 84 BPM. Only speed up when you can play it four times in a row without mistakes.
Is this drum lesson right for my level?
It is a level 8 groove. If it feels too hard, go back to “Tom-tom groove”.