Francis' Drumming Blog

After a long time spent transcribing, I’m glad to share a new resource to help you develop your drumming by exploring a great variety of shuffle rhythms. There’s no doubt one of the masters of this rhythm is Jeff Porcaro, who created memorable grooves from the rock shuffle played on “Lido Shuffle” to the iconic “Rosanna” shuffle. Learning from drumming masters is the best way to grow and expand your vocabulary. Here’s a collection including some of the legendary shuffle grooves played by Jeff Porcaro with artists such as Toto, Boz Scaggs, Steely Dan, Al Jarreau, Dire Straits, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and many others.

For ease of reading, the transcriptions have been grouped into 4 main categories: rock shuffle, half-time shuffle, 8th note triplet groove, and straight 8th & 16th note swing. The transcribed drum beats are presented in chronological order with basic info for every song (album, bpm). The collection includes the main drum beat transcription for:

• Steely Dan – Black Friday
• Boz Scaggs – Lido Shuffle
• Larry Carlton – Don’t Give It Up
• Toto – Child’s Anthem
• Toto – Goodbye Elenore
• Madonna – Cherish
• Dire Straits – My Parties
• Bruce Springsteen – Soul Driver
• Toto – Mama
• Toto – Rosanna
• Al Jarreau – Mornin’
• Toto – These Chains
• Toto – Hold The Line
• Herbie Hancock – Paradise
• The Manhattan Transfer – Confide In Me
• Boz Scaggs – JoJo
• Michael Jackson – The Girl Is Mine
• Toto – Pamela

The hi-hat is the essential element you should focus on when playing these rhythms. Accents and open/close embellishments, as well as the snare ghost notes, are the remarkable aspects of Jeff Porcaro’s drumming style. Start slowly to have a good balance between the various parts. Let the groove flow over and over, playing along with the song, and then you can add some variations and fills.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF

The paid version of this collection includes all the transcriptions listed above, the biography of the drummer, and the full drum transcriptions for Lido Shuffle, Child’s Anthem, Hold The Line, and Rosanna. Every sheet music is entirely transcribed note-for-note with an easy and clear interface, including a notation key. Keep on drumming!