Does Reggae Music Use the Blues Scale?
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If you’re a fan of reggae music, you may be wondering if the genre uses the blues scale. While the answer isn’t definitive, there are some elements of reggae that suggest it does make use of the blues scale. Keep reading to learn more about the connection between reggae and the blues scale.
What is the blues scale?
The blues scale is a six-note musical scale typically associated with the playing of blues. It can also be used in other genres of music, such as rock and roll, jazz, and reggae.
The blues scale consists of the following notes:
-Root (1st) note
-Minor 3rd
-Perfect 4th
-Diminished 5th (or Flat 5th)
-5th
-Minor 7th
What is reggae music?
Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, “Do the Reggay” was the first popular song to use the word “reggae,” effectively naming the genre and introducing it to a global audience. While sometimes used in a broad sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that was strongly influenced by traditional mento as well as American jazz and rhythm and blues, especially the New Orleans R&B practiced by Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint. Reggae developed from ska and rocksteady; reggae fusion genres such as dub, lovers rock, roots reggae, and jungle also developed from this era.
How do the two genres compare?
Reggae and blues are both musical genres that originated in Africa. Reggae is a genre of music that was developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The blues is a genre of music that originated in the United States in the early 1900s. While both genres have their roots in Africa, they have evolved into two very different genres of music.
Reggae is characterized by its use of the Jamaican patois, its focus on rhythms, and its use of the Rastafari movement. The blues is characterized by its use of the blues scale, its focus on emotions, and its use of improvisation.
When it comes to instrumentation, both genres make use of guitars, but reggae also makes use of drums and keyboards. The blues often makes use of harmonicas and Slide guitars.
In terms of popularity, the blues is more popular than reggae outside of Jamaica. In the United States, the blues is considered to be one of the most important genres of music while reggae is not as popular.
What are some similarities between the two genres?
There are many similarities between reggae and blues music. Both genres are based on African-American folk traditions and both often deal with topics such as poverty, struggle, and love. Both genres also make use of similar musical scales, including the blues scale.
While the two genres share many similarities, there are also some important differences. Blues music is typically more focused on individual expression and personal storytelling, while reggae is more focused on making political and social statements. Reggae is also usually faster-paced and more upbeat than blues music.
What are some differences between the two genres?
While reggae and blues both originated in Africa, there are some significant differences between the two genres. For one, the blues scale is based on minor thirds, while reggae is based on major thirds. Additionally, blues often uses a 12-bar structure, while reggae typically uses a 4-bar or 8-bar structure. Finally, blues is typically played in a major key, while reggae is typically played in a minor key.
