3 Types of Reggae Music You Need to Know

Reggae music comes in many different forms. This article covers three of the most popular types of reggae music: roots reggae, dancehall, and dub.

Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae encompasses a variety of different subgenres, including ska, rocksteady, dub, and roots reggae. Reggae is a very popular genre of music, and it has been highly influential in the development of other genres, such as hip hop and dancehall.

What is Reggae?

Reggae is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The style is characterized by a distinctive rhythm, which is created by the combination of drums, bass, and guitar, as well as by the use of Jamaican Patois, an English-based creole language. Reggae music is typically slower than other genres of Jamaican music, such as ska and rocksteady, and is typically characterized by a laid-back, relaxed feeling.

Reggae has been influenced by many other genres of music, including rhythm and blues, jazz, and even hip hop. However, the most significant influence on reggae music has been that of African music. Reggae’s African influences can be heard in the use of call-and-response patterns, as well as in the percussive nature of the music.

There are three main subgenres of reggae: roots reggae, dub reggae, and dancehall reggae. Each subgenre has its own distinctive sound and feel.

Roots reggae is the original form of reggae music. It is characterized by its focus on themes of social justice and its use of Rastafarian language and symbolism. Roots reggae songs often address issues such as poverty, racism, and injustice. The most famous roots reggae artist is Bob Marley, who helped to bring the genre to a wider audience with his political lyrics and catchy melodies.

Dub reggae is a subgenre that originated in Jamaica in the 1970s. Dub music is made by adding echo and reverb effects to existing tracks to create new versions or “dubs” of them. Dub artists often experiment with different sounds and textures to create new sonic landscapes. The most famous dub artist is Lee “Scratch” Perry, who is known for his innovative production techniques.

Dancehall reggae is a subgenre that emerged in Jamaica in the 1980s. Dancehall songs are typified by their heavy use of bass and drum machines, as well as their focus on dancing and partying. Dancehall artists often use explicit lyrics that address topics such as sex and violence. The most famous dancehall artist is Bounty Killer, who rose to prominence in the 1990s with his hard-hitting lyrics and catchy hooks.

The Three Types of Reggae

There are three types of reggae: ska, rocksteady, and dancehall. Ska is the original form of reggae and is characterized by its uptempo beat and horns. Rocksteady emerged as a slower, more soulful form of reggae in the late 1960s. Dancehall is the most contemporary form of reggae, characterized by its rapid beats and lyrics.

Ska

Ska is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s. It is a fast-paced, upbeat style of music that is often played with horns and guitars. Ska is one of the three main types of reggae music, along with rocksteady and reggae.

What is Ska?

Ska is a type of music that originated in Jamaica in the 1950s. It is a blend of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. The hallmark of ska is its upbeat tempo and offbeat rhythm, which gives it a distinctive “skanking” sound.

Ska was popularized in England by Jamaican immigrants in the 1960s, and it played an important role in the development of punk rock. Two subgenres of ska emerged during the 1970s: 2-tone ska, which combined ska with punk rock; and traditional ska, which stayed true to the original sound of the music.

Today, ska enjoys renewed popularity around the world, thanks in part to its appeal to fans of punk rock and other alternative genres. If you’re looking to explore this lively style of music, here are three types of ska you need to know.

The Three Types of Ska

Ska is a Jamaican music genre that originated in the late 1950s. Ska combines elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. It is generally characterized by a walking bass line accented with rhythms on the off-beat. Ska developed in Jamaica in the 1960s and reached its height of popularity in the early 1980s.

There are three primary types of ska: traditional ska, rocksteady, and reggae.

Traditional ska is the earliest form of ska, marked by a bouncy tempo and staccato guitars. This style was popularized by artists such as Prince Buster and Desmond Dekker. Traditional ska is often considered the “golden age” of Jamaican music.

Rocksteady is a slower, more soulful form of ska that emerged in the late 1960s. This style is characterized by its smooth, relaxed sound. Rocksteady was made popular by artists such as Alton Ellis and Ken Boothe.

Reggae is the most prevalent type of ska today. It developed in the 1970s and is characterized by its heavy bass sound and Rastafarian influence. Reggae has been popularized by artists such as Bob Marley, Buju Banton, and Sean Paul.

Dub

What is Dub?

Dub is a subgenre of reggae music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is characterized by a sparse, minimalistic drumbeat and reverberant bass, as well as sparse or absent vocals. The first use of the word “dub” in reference to music was in the late 1950s, but it did not gain popularity until the early 1970s.

The term “dub” comes from the practice of remixing songs by overdubbing them with instrumental or vocal tracks. This was done primarily by Jamaican soundsystems, who would play records and add their own MCs and DJs to the mix. Dub developed from this practice, and eventually came to be its own genre of music.

While dub originated in Jamaica, it has since spread to other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. Dub has also been heavily influenced by other genres of music, including hip hop, techno, and even classical music.

The Three Types of Dub

Dub is a genre of reggae that originated in the 1960s and 1970s. It is characterized by its heavy use of bass and drums, as well as its sparse, echoed lyrics. Dub music has had a significant impact on many other genres, including hip hop, techno, and Drum and Bass. There are three main types of dub: roots dub, digital dub, and steppers dub.

Roots dub is the original type of dub music, characterized by its use of echo and delay effects. This type of dub was popularized by Jamaican producers such as King Tubby and Lee “Scratch” Perry.

Digital dub is a more modern type of dub that uses computer-generated effects to create its signature sound. This type of dub was popularized in the late 1990s and early 2000s by artists such as Mad Professor and Zion Train.

Steppers dub is a newer style of dub that combines elements of both digital and roots dub. This type of dub is characterized by its use of synthesizers and drum machines, as well as its sparse, echoey vocals. Steppers dub was popularized in the early 2000s by artists such as Adrian Sherwood and Midlands Sound System.