Straight time vs Swing time, G shuffle blues

Bruce Gertz
Bruce Gertz

Lesson time: (2min 52sec)

Understand the difference between straight and swing time, put in context with a G shuffle blues

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This lesson is part of the course Contemporary Bass Guitar Grooves
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Lesson transcript:

Exploring Different Feels in Music

Okay, now I want to talk about the different kinds of feels you can play.

Straight Time

I have the metronome set at 120 beats per minute. This is the sound of straight time.

  • Eighth Notes:
    • "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and."
    • "1 and 2 and 3 and 4."
    • "1 and 2 and 3 and 4."
    • "And that's like rock or funky: 1 and 2 and 3 and four."

Swing Time

Now, if I want to feel swing time, it's played using triplets:

  • "1, 2, 3, 4."
  • "1, 2, 3, four."

Shuffle G Blues

Okay, now I'm going to put my metronome back on, and I'm going to play a little shuffle G blues.

  • "One, two. One, two, three, four."

Okay.

About the instructor

Bruce Gertz
Bruce Gertz

Bruce Gertz is an award-winning bassist (acoustic and electric), composer, educator, and author. He is a professor of bass at Berklee College of Music, where he has taught since 1976. Bruce is the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Performance Award Grant, the Massachusetts Cultural Council Musical Composition Award, and numerous outstanding bassist awards from the Boston Music Awards, A.S.C.A.P. Plus Popular Awards, and multiple recognition awards from the International Association of Jazz Educators and the Jazz Education Network. Bruce also serves on the board of directors of the International Society of Bassists. He has performed and recorded with such artists as Gary Burton, Jerry Bergonzi, John Abercrombie, Joey Calderazzo, Kenny Werner, Mick Goodrick, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Billy Hart, George Garzone, Mike Stern, Larry Coryell, Joe Lovano, Cab Calloway, and Count Basie, among many others. In Contemporary Bass Guitar Grooves, Bruce puts all of that experience to work for you. You'll learn to build solid, swinging bass lines and lock into authentic grooves across funk, jazz, and fusion, so you can hold down the bottom end and walk into any band situation with confidence. His extensive discography and additional information can be found at www.brucegertz.com. read more

What's included?

29 lessons (1h 11m)
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