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