Classic feels that make any jam come alive

Jon Liebman
September 25, 2025

Picture this: you’re at a jam session, waiting for someone to call a tune. Nobody can decide what to play… until somebody says, “How about a blues?” And nine times out of ten, that means one thing:

Shuffle time.

That’s why it’s so important to have a shuffle ready to go. And the great thing is, there isn’t just one way to play it. In this week’s Essence of Groove video, I’ll show you several different takes on the shuffle — from easy, no-frills patterns all the way to rock and even swing.

Once you’ve got these feels under your fingers, you’ll be much better prepared for whatever might come up the next time someone says, “Let’s play a blues.”

Watch the video, then leave a comment below with your takeaways.

Let’s play bass!
—Jon