Rhythm Technique: »Django Shuffle«

DrSnyder

I’m not sure if the Django ’shuffle’ is its official name but everyone will have heard it on Django Reinhardt recordings - Django takes a solo and when he has finished he starts playing a rhythm behind the next soloist which lifts the whole band and feels as though the pace has suddenly accelerated though the actual time remains steady.

The rhythm is still the straight four beats to the bar with accents on the second and fourth beats but instead of two upstrokes a bar, after the second and fourth beats, there are upstrokes after every beat.

Do you guys have heard or even tried that rhythm playing or do you know its real name, if there is one?

The Los

Yeah man, most people call it "the shuffle". It's a simple but fun trick that can inject a some energy into your rhythm section. Good of you to bring it up.

Phydeaux3

Not to be constantly played through tunes. It is more of an accompaniment and as stated correctly above lifts the tune. Sometimes employed towards the end of tunes to bring them to a rip-roaring end.

DrSnyder

Especially at higher tempos, it sounds great. You can hear it in the end of the tune »The world is waiting for the sunrise« (Joscho Stephan: Acoustic Life, 2006)