The half-time shuffle is one of the most essential rhythms every drummer must know, you can hear it on a great variety of songs from r&b to rock, fusion, and pop music. Here’s a collection of transcriptions, with some main grooves using this rhythm.
The master of this groove is Bernard Purdie, his work with Steely Dan is remarkable. His incredible feel would be adopted by John Bonham on “Fool in the Rain” and the late Jeff Porcaro created a compromise between John Bonham and Bernard Purdie’s groove with the Rosanna Shuffle, for the famous tune “Rosanna” by Toto. Check out the amazing Bernard Purdie.
Below there’s a list of songs using this rhythm, to know more I recommend the book The Commandments of the Half-Time Shuffle by Zoro.
- Al Jarreau – Mornin’ youtube.com/watch?v=Ld8ICOf8Crs
- Death Cab for Cutie – Grapevine Fires youtube.com/watch?v=gQEi6HU3E0M
- Ed Motta – Samurai youtube.com/watch?v=jGufl0-h1WM
- Led Zeppelin – Fool in the Rain youtube.com/watch?v=d52M5M6OOXs
- Paul Simon – Oh, Marion youtube.com/watch?v=Srvj6cBhDAs
- Ray Charles – Sweet Potato Pie youtube.com/watch?v=tvEcQoMEvNQ
- Steely Dan – Babylon Sisters youtube.com/watch?v=pAuPMJlK92s
- Steely Dan – Home at Last youtube.com/watch?v=cGMjGaiIxtY
- Toto – Rosanna youtube.com/watch?v=BvB08PoUlIc
- Toto – These Chains youtube.com/watch?v=4CHHQVfgZ0k
Francis' Drumming Blog 