The Swing drum groove
The pattern, step by step
One cell per sixteenth note, sixteen cells to the bar — exactly what the hub's drum machine plays. Downbeats are shown in bold.
Swing
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kick | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| Ride | ● | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | ● | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | · |
- Kick · 2 hits · steps 1, 9 · beats 1, 3
- Ride · 6 hits · steps 1, 4, 6, 9, 12, 14 · beats 1, 3
Jazz 2/4
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kick | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| Snare | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · |
| Ride | ● | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | ● | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | · |
- Kick · 1 hit · steps 1 · beats 1
- Snare · 2 hits · steps 5, 13 · beats 2, 4
- Ride · 6 hits · steps 1, 4, 6, 9, 12, 14 · beats 1, 3
Brushes Ballad
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snare | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · |
| Ride | ● | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | ● | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | · |
- Snare · 2 hits · steps 5, 13 · beats 2, 4
- Ride · 6 hits · steps 1, 4, 6, 9, 12, 14 · beats 1, 3
Jazz Latin
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kick | ● | · | · | · | ● | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| Snare | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · |
| Hi-hat | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · |
| Ride | ● | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | ● | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | · |
- Kick · 3 hits · steps 1, 5, 8 · beats 1, 2
- Snare · 2 hits · steps 5, 13 · beats 2, 4
- Hi-hat · 8 hits · steps 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 · beats 1, 2, 3, 4 · eighth notes
- Ride · 6 hits · steps 1, 4, 6, 9, 12, 14 · beats 1, 3
Where to start
The ride figure alone, right hand, while the left foot closes the hi-hat on 2 and 4. Nothing else. Those two limbs hold the whole of jazz; the rest is conversation.
What the hands and feet actually do
The triplet ratio flattens as the tempo rises: at 300 BPM the swing becomes almost straight, naturally. Nobody calculates it — you hear it and adjust by ear.
The trap
Playing the ride figure like a metronome. Swing is a conversation with the soloist: if your ride never reacts to what happens in front, you are backing a record, not a band.
Listen to this
To hear the Swing groove in its element:
Take Five (Dave Brubeck) · So What (Miles Davis) · Autumn Leaves
Drummers of this groove
Papa Jo Jones
Moved the pulse from the kick drum to the hi-hat. All modern jazz starts there.
Before him, drums marked all four beats on the kick, like a marching band. Jones lightened everything and handed the pulse to the hi-hat, which freed the feet and made bebop possible. A single change of gesture that redefined the instrument for the whole century.
Jumpin' at the Woodside (Count Basie)Shoe Shine BoyNeighbouring grooves
Play it right now
The Drum Hub's drum machine loads this pattern, plays it at any tempo and lets you edit it cell by cell.
Open the Drum Hub →Frequently asked questions
How do you play a Swing groove on drums?
The ride figure alone, right hand, while the left foot closes the hi-hat on 2 and 4. Nothing else. Those two limbs hold the whole of jazz; the rest is conversation.
What tempo is Swing played at?
The usual range runs from 70 to 175 BPM. The hub's 4 pattern(s) are set to 140 BPM, 160 BPM, 75 BPM, 120 BPM, and the tempo stays free inside the drum machine.
Is Swing straight or shuffled?
Shuffled: the offbeats are delayed (0.66 of swing in the hub's pattern), which gives the shuffle feel.
Which drummer should you listen to for Swing?
Papa Jo Jones, Philly Joe Jones. In the hub, Papa Jo Jones is attached to this groove.