IN THE LAST few columns, we explored an effective approach to strengthening our sense of groove and time, for both rhythm and lead playing. The first part of the exercise entails devising a repeating riff, or vamp, that establishes the groove. The second part is to solo over that groove with an ear towards locking into the rhythm part as solidly as possible.
All our previous examples have been four bars long. Now, our rhythm part will be a 12-bar blues shuffle, over which I’ll then improvise a solo. This rhythm part has a pronounced triplet feel and is in the key of E, along the lines of Albert King’s “Can’t You See What You Are Doing to Me.” You’ll hear the same groove and a nearly identical riff in Jimi Hendrix’s “Jam Back at the House,” also known as “Beginnings,” as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Wall of Denial.” Therein lies the progression of this type of groove, as Albert’s tune inspired Jimi, who in turn inspired Stevie.