How to play a box shuffle + variations

Hello, this week’s harmonica lesson is all about a very common bass line in blues called the ‘box shuffle‘. I will be showing you how to play a descending box shuffle on a C harmonica in 2nd position.

There are many variations of the box shuffle so once you have learnt the descending one you can move on to an ascending one (see below) and then make up your own!

Tabs and backing track

I have put together two tab sheets for this lesson. One is the descending box shuffle I am playing in the lesson and the other is the ascending variation. There is also a free backing track you can get with them to play along to!

Click here to download lesson resources

Notes in a box shuffle

The notes that you have in a box shuffle are based on the notes which are in the chord being played.

These are;

– root note
– 5th
– b7th
– octave

In a descending shuffle we start on the root note and then come back down from the octave.

Audio clips

You can listen to each lick in the descending box shuffle played slowly and individually by using the audio player below.

Ascending Box Shuffle

Once you are comfortable playing the descending box shuffle all the way through, why don’t you have a go at the ascending box shuffle.

It is all the same notes but you go up through them – root, 5th, b7th, octave.

Click video below to hear me playing it –

Backing Tracks

Click here to download lesson resources

Thank you

Thank you so much for taking part in this lesson. I hope you are now able to play a box shuffle comfortably!

I have a small request for you if you would be so kind as to share this on Facebook and/or Twitter by clicking the share buttons.

Happy harping!

Tomlin