Definition
Shuffle is a triplet-based feel in which each beat is divided into a long-then-short pair, giving music a rolling, galloping motion.
Example
A shuffle sounds like a steady "da-ga-da-ga" gallop; think of a blues shuffle ride pattern or a heavily swung hip-hop hi-hat. The first note of each pair is held roughly twice as long as the second, which is the triplet skeleton underneath the feel.
Why it matters
Shuffle is one of the most recognisable rhythmic feels in popular music, and many drum machines fold it into the same control as swing. Understanding that shuffle is triplet-based helps you program it correctly instead of approximating it with a vague swing percentage that never quite lands.
How to play or configure
If your device has a triplet grid, program the hits on the first and third triplet of each beat and leave the middle one empty. If you only have a swing knob, push it toward its maximum, which usually reaches a full triplet shuffle near 66–75%. Play the hi-hats and ride first, since the shuffle reads most clearly on fast subdivisions.
Related terms
Further reading
Why your drums sound robotic discusses shuffle and swing together.