In a shuffle each beat isn’t split into two equal halves but into three parts: the first note lasts two thirds, the second one third. That gives the typical long-short, long-short – like skipping.
The boogie riff
The bass plays the boogie riff: root, third, fifth, sixth, flat seventh – and back via sixth, fifth, third (1-3-5-6-b7-6-5-3). In C that’s C, E, G, A, Bb, A, G, E. In E it’s E, G#, B, C#, D, C#, B, G#.
- Chords: down-up in eighth notes, but swinging – the down long, the up short.
- Bass: first the root on every beat, then the riff in quarter notes (1-3-5-6), then the whole boogie riff. Use one finger per fret.