Bass Exercises: Shuffle And Swing Rhythms

Shuffle And Swing Rhythms Exercises

Bass Exercise #1: Constant shuffle 8th notes

Here you can hear the shuffle 8th note feel. Both bars are identical in sound. The 2nd bar is the common way of writing shuffle 8ths. Example is played on open A.

Bass Exercise #2: Shuffle is the underlying pulse

Even when you play just the upbeats on a shuffle, they still need to land in the right place. Do not switch to straight 8th notes. I put the drums in so you can feel the constant shuffle pulse.

Bass Exercise #3: Practice using the shuffle feel

You should practice scales, arpeggios, and patterns with straight and shuffle rhythms. Here is the G major scale played up to the 9th (A) and back down using the shuffle feel.