SHUFFLE RHYTHM

The shuffle rhythm is a great way to really get your songs rocking. In the video example below I am playing a 12 bar blues patter in the key of C which consists of 3 chords that fall in the 1, 4, 5 position of the scale = C, F & G. 

The shuffle rhythm is also known as 'SWING' rhythm and is very recognisable once you hear it. To explain the shuffle rhythm, you 1st need to look at a bar with 4 beats in it and then divide each of those beats into triplets as follows:

Then you need to get rid of the middle note of each triplet to get that sweet old shuffle sound as follows:

You can simply use down and up strums to achieve this but make sure they have that triplet feel with adequate space in between the notes otherwise you will end up with a straight-8 rhythm. Have a listen below to the audio example of a straight-8 rhythm vs a shuffle rhythm:

Getting Groovy

In the example below, I am using a two bar pattern with the 1st bar using the example as above and the second bar being derived from the good old calypso strum, where we leave out beat 3 completely, to make the shuffle sound even more groovy, as follows:

The extra notes that are added in on beats 2 & 4 of the first round are notes from the RELATIVE MINOR notes of each of the major scales.
In this case;

• The C Major chord, adds the A minor chord root note
  
• The F Major chord adds in the D minor root note
  
• The G Major chord adds in the E minor root note

As represented by the stars illustrated below:

In the second round, I add in the relative BLUES NOTES of each of those minor notes on down beat of beat 3 of chords of C & F major. The blues note for each scale can be found one semitone above the relative minor note to give it that rocking bluesy sound, as illustrated below: 

If this all sound a bit confusing, which it may well do when you are just starting out, stick with it and watch the video below to see and listen to how these extra notes work and just try and copy what I am doing. 

This shuffle-type of strumming has many variations and is often not quite as ‘tight' as I am demonstrating. Truth is, the second strum (the up) can fall anywhere in between where the ‘&' of the triplet and the 'a' of the triplet, depending upon the groove you are playing. But don't worry too much about this until you start practicing the patterns above. Once you get the hang of it, try playing along to various blues songs at different speeds and you will soon pick up on the alternating shuffle positions.  
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NB: Music theory is a practice within itself, but the great thing is, you don't need to fully understand it before you can play it so give it a go and get your jam on.