A broad palette of piano and keyboard playing styles – all with that unmistakable shuffle feel.
The shuffled groove has been immortalized in numerous timeless songs over the years. In more modern contexts, though, it’s become somewhat synonymous with genres like AOR and fusion, but it can be found in practically any style of music – from traditional blues to contemporary pop. This is where the Shuffles EZkeys MIDI pack takes off. Rather than pinpointing a specific genre, it focuses entirely on the groove. Expect the sophistication of AOR, the twang and finesse of fusion and all the funk-infused soul, rock and pop you’ll need – all with that unmistakable shuffle feel.
If you’re looking for a broad palette of inspiration that transcends any narrow definition of style, this collection is for you. Start writing!
Here’s our very own Rikk Currence with three top reasons as to why your songs will thank you for using EZkeys and our collection of EZkeys MIDI.
Check out the Shuffled Backbeats MIDI pack. It comes with a wide selection of shuffled grooves for anything from classic rock to modern pop. The perfect match!
SHUFFLED BACKBEATSWhat did you try to capture in this pack?
– I tried to include a wide range of shuffle grooves, from subtle to heavy swing, mostly focusing on pop, rock and funk music.
With only shuffles, was it hard to still create such a diverse collection?
– No, there’s a lot of material to be inspired by, and within the concept of shuffle there’s a lot of room for variation.
The shuffled groove has a lot of history – from the early days of jazz and blues, through the funk era, the AOR age and all the way up through to today. What does the shuffle mean to you?
– It’s impossible to find a tune that has no shuffle in it unless it is 100% programmed. As human beings we are imperfect and we tend to introduce shuffle even in the straightest of rhythms, it just feels right to do it. Basically, in a shuffle groove, the offbeat notes are delayed in time. The amount of delay determines how heavy the swing feels. Most straight rock tunes played by humans have a very subtle shuffle to them, while a slow jazz or hip-hop tune might have a heavier swing. It can get very complex with some songs varying the amount of shuffle within a measure of music!
Some say that playing a shuffle is an art – do you agree?
– Yes, as with any other element of music you can hone in on finer and finer aspects of it. Phrasing, timing, dynamics, envelope and sound are all part of shaping the groove and can be varied ad infinitum.
Name some favorite players that you think master the art of playing shuffled music!
– On drums, Bernard Purdie, John Bonham and Jeff Porcaro are some of the masters of shuffled backbeat grooves. On the keyboards, my personal favorites are Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder.
What do you hope users will take away from this pack?
– I hope they will have fun and create new and interesting tunes with it!
Name: Stefan Olofsson
Location: Greece
We’ve been fortunate enough to have Stefan collaborate on several EZkeys MIDI packs.
Check them out!
Some historic shuffle moments and artists that laid have laid down some timeless shuffled grooves.
A playlist of various videos showcasing how to work with EZkeys.
A playlist of various videos showcasing how to work with EZkeys.
This video series demonstrates the workflow of writing music with EZkeys. Learn how to add a piano to match your guitar track, how to find new song parts how to work with several instances of EZkeys.
A working installation of an EZkeys sound library.
