Hear Straight and Shuffle
On this page
Keep the main pulse steady while the second eighth-note click moves later inside each beat.
What to listen for
Compare the spacing inside a beat. The numbers stay steady; Shuffle delays the second eighth-note position.
Try the practice
Check the setup
- Meter
- 4/4
- Tempo
- 120 BPM · quarter note beats
- Subdivisions
- 8ths
- Swing
- Shuffle · 66⅔% · 8th level
- Accent sound
- On
- Duration
- Stop after the stated task
- Count-in
- None
Opens in a new tab. Review the settings, then press Start when ready.
- Check 4/4, 120 quarter-note BPM, 8ths and Shuffle at the eighth level. Count ONE-and with the long-short clicks for four bars.
- Stop, choose Straight and repeat for four bars. The two positions now divide each beat evenly.
- Return to Shuffle and repeat. Keep the numbers equally spaced while the and moves later.
Eighth and sixteenth levels
The eighth level moves the second eighth position of an eligible pair. The sixteenth level moves the second sixteenth within each eligible eighth pair. Use the matching audible division: changing a swing amount cannot move a click that is not selected.
Open the existing sixteenth Shuffle example
Main beats alone has no smaller audible click to move. Borrowed divisions stay locked to their spacing. Compound and mixed groupings have different eligible positions; check the available Swing level in the actual Subdivisions control. If it is unavailable, use the 4/4 eighth example rather than assuming the setting applies.
| Setting | Spacing in an eligible pair |
|---|---|
| Straight · 50% | Two equal parts |
| Shuffle · 66⅔% | Long first part, short second part; 2/3 of the pair before the second position |
What to check
Switch between the two settings without moving the next main beat or treating Shuffle as two equal counts.
When to simplify
Lower BPM manually or listen without clapping. Compare only one subdivision level at a time.
Choose which beats stand out
Change click emphasis while keeping the timing you just compared.
Try the next practice