"How do you do that shuffle?"

I get this question alot so I figured I throw up a semi-instructional video on how I do it. I have no formal training, so I probably don't even know what I'm talking about, but if it helps you, then I've reached my goal.

Background song: Kingstep - Stick Figure - Reprise Sessions - available on iTunes.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• reggae
• dub
• drums
• shuffle
• sublime
• stick
• figure

[wheeliejuice]

Yo Todd what up it's Chris Jones! I seriously cannot thank you enough for this video! I have been searching YouTube FOREVER trying to find a video that explains the Hi-Hat "Shuffle". This was really helpful. Now I get to spend the next 6 weeks trying to perfect this.

[toddsmith00]

@wheeliejuice - oh word Chris. No problem, glad it was helpful.

[mdoy]

@toddsmith00 - hey todd what is the song in the background throughout the beginning and again at the very end?! Thanks

[toddsmith00]

@mdoy That song is on Stick Figure's new album "The Reprise Sessions" - it's just a remake of the classic Kingstep song. It's me on drums and Scott on keys, bass, and guitar. I've seen a few uploaded mp3's of it on youtube; search Kingstep dub stick figure and it should pull it up.

[Dubz229]

sweet thanks todd!!! cant wait to get my cd /shirt - should be here today or tomorrow (in Toronto)!  Going to sport the shit out of that shirt haha

[toddsmith00]

@Dubz229 - hahaha thanks for the support!

[unyeal11]

thanks a lot .. but internet thing on my end is slow so could hv made the intro speech a bit shorter .. .. lol

but thanks

[Grim214]

the technique for the right hand is called moellar. it uses your wrist and your arm to create a whipping motion to be able to play accents and taps at higher tempos and it helps get that shuffle down with ease once you get it. i learned this shit from drumline and i go on with that right hand for days without getting cramped up or my wrist wearing out.

[Longboarder140]

@fantasycake

practice man! if you want to shuffle with americanized reggae, you gotta listen to and watch blues and jazz drummers. the shuffle is in triplets, lacking the second note, and was used way back when in order to give blues songs a heavy groove. it's real simple when you master it, and can completely change the way you drum once you learn it. also, you may want to check out "Gil Sharone" and "Sly Dunbar". those guys are amazing reggae drummers.

[fantasycake]

cool! im a reggae drummer also and i do exactly what you do on shuffle, we cover most sublime songs, however im having trouble when you speed up the driving shuffle, it's like i tire quickly, some kinda like 5446 song, when we play it, it doesnt sound right bec i get fatigued, other than the wrist technique, do you have technique on speeding it up without tiring?

[ritalinrush]

if you speed up the hopie shuffle you could start a mean skanking pit XD

[smashbrofilming]

I don't know. I find it interesting the way you play it, however I think that the use of two hands if done properly is easier and more effective. Whenever I have to do a one-handed odd beat or a faster beat it tires out my right hand pretty quickly. When I play this song I do use two hands for the shuffle, just use it properly in a shuffle sort of sound. I swear it sounds the same. Good instructional video though man! Keep it up.

[bi187lly]

You need more lighting in your videos. Thank you! :)

[50155IMBIAC]

I love to listen to sublime like u todd and am a huge enthusiast when it comes to that driving shuffle don't particulary care much for the hoppy shuffle though

[DrumBumRyley]

hey man, the "driving shuffle" ur talking about, is actually called an accent. your just playing accented 16ths . its not a shuffel haha, otherwise good vid.

[123bongman321]

this is sick! really nice rolling shuffle.. but as some people have asked your the drummer for stick figure? if so thats fucking awsome