is there a more precise word for this groove than just ''shuffle''? How would you tell a band at a jam that you want this type of groove. Obviously, saying ''it's a 12 bar shuffle'' is not enough. What do you think?
what about his one?
what about this (sorry can't embedd) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD9lhKXg75k&feature=related---------- Heart2Harp
Personally, I find Sonny Boy tunes hard to describe. They fall into the category of either the band knows that kind of stuff or they don't. If you tell a bunch of guys that you're going to play a Sonny Boy style shuffle and you want them to play in the style of Robert Jr Lockwood, 99% of guitar players, bass players and drummers rare going to be clueless.
Most of the time, I will tell them it's a shuffle and have them come in on the four and I will start the tune. You'll be left hanging out there totally naked until they come in, but it's a jam. At least, you wont be dealing with 4 different opinions of a specific type of shuffle.
Personally, I don't play Sonny Boy tunes unless i trust that the band members can pull it off.
I've had to explain a box shuffle to people at a jam before. The results were not good.
Check out Jimi Lee's "Every groove a bluesman needs to know" - a wonderful set of jam trax with guitar, bass, drums and keys - that illustrates a BUNCH of different grooves. Each one is named, and there is a written explanation of each. Here is the explanation for Disc 1, track 1:
"Jimmy Reed Shuffle in E - this is a great place to start. A straight ahead shuffle with the bass walking from the root, or 1st degree, to the sixth degree. Root-Third-Fifth-Sixth-etc. and the drummer shuffling on the snare and ride cymbal. Great songs like Jimmy Reed's "Baby What You Want Me To Do" are classic examples and mandatory for a Bluesman and any well rounded musician's reprertoire. This groove is sometimes called a "Delta Shuffle."
There is an explanation like that for every track and there are 31 tracks on the 2 CD set. Really valuable stuff that will help you communicate with the band.
See http://www.jimileeband.com/ and go to the "Buy CD's" section.
@Greg: I have purchase Jimmi Lee's CDs. they are great. I was trying to take it a bit further and ask about grooves that are not included in his set. Maybe I should ask these questions to jimmi himself. ---------- Heart2Harp
YES - please DO ask Jimi. I hope he is keeping track of grooves that aren't yet on his CD and that he expands the offering. (And say hello to him for me, please. He's a friend and customer.) ---------- /Greg
As far as the 2 Sony Boy tunes, I'm sory to say,"12 bar shuffle" is all I would say. Maybe slow or medium tempo. And I would certainly count it out, but it sounded rather generic to me.
The Billy Arnold tune I WOULD NOT ATTEMPT because it is too dependant on "the lick". The "Bo Didley" rythm ,as Joe_L said, is a good discription for the drums. ---------- intermediate level (+) player per the Adam Gussow Scale, Started playing 2001
