Reggae Style: Classical Music for the Soul

Discover how reggae style can soothe the soul with its unique sound and rhythm.

The Birth of Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that was developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The style is a fusion of African and Caribbean rhythms and is closely related to ska and rocksteady. Reggae is typically characterized by a strong bassline, guitar, and drums.

Ska

Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. It is characterized by a walking bass line accented with rhythms on the off beat. The tempo is generally fast with an upstroke snare drum back beat played by rudimental drummers. The lyrics are often about topics such as love, wanderlust, social issues or patriotism.

The first wave of ska was led by musicians such as Prince Buster, Clement “Coxsone” Dodd, Duke Reid and SirLord Comic. It was not until the 1962 Jamaican hit “My Boy Lollipop” by Millie Small that ska became a worldwide phenomenon. The popularity of ska subsequently spread to Britain where it gave birth to the 2 Tone movement which fused ska with punk rock. Ska has had a significant impact on many other genres including rocksteady, dub, British punk, mod revival, new wave, 2 Tone and even heavy metal.

Rocksteady

Rocksteady is a subgenre of reggae that developed in Jamaica in 1966. It combined elements of ska and rocksteady, a style that was named after a 1968 song by Alton Ellis. The Rocksteady era was short-lived, lasting only about two years. The style was replaced by reggae, which incorporated more R&B and funk influences.

Reggae

Reggae music originated in Jamaica in the 1960s. The term reggae was first used to describe a style of music that was similar to ska and rocksteady. Reggae is a mixture of African, West Indian, and British music. Reggae is usually played with drums, bass, guitar, and keyboards. The sound of reggae is very unique and it is often described as “roots” music.

Reggae became very popular in the 1970s and it is still popular today. Reggae has influenced other genres of music such as hip hop and R&B. Some famous reggae artists include Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, and Sean Paul.

The Sound of Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The style is characterized by a slower tempo and a focus on the bass and drums. Reggae is a very popular style of music that is often used to relax and unwind. It has a unique sound that is unlike any other genre of music.

The Bass

The bass is the foundation of every reggae song. The bassline is usually quite simple, but it can be very complex and is often embellished with syncopation. The most important aspect of the bass in reggae is the “groove” that it creates. This groove is created by the interplay between the rhythm guitar and the drums. The bass player usually follows the pattern set by the rhythm guitar, but there are often times when the bass will play something different to create a more interesting groove.

The drums in reggae are usually played with a very laid-back feel. The most important part of the drum kit is the snare drum, which plays a very important role in creating the reggae groove. The snare drum is usually played with a lot of Attack and frequently uses Ghost notes to create a more laid-back feel. The Hi-Hat is also played with a lot of Attack and is often used to accentuate the off-beats.

The rhythm guitar in reggae is typically played with a pick and often uses downstrokes to create a percussive sound. The guitar might play chords or single notes, but it is always playing some sort of rhythmic figure that helps to drive the groove forward.

The Drums

Drums play a vital role in reggae music. The most important drum in reggae is the “kick,” or bass, drum. This drum provides the “pulse” or “feel” of the music. The other drums play around this feel, providing counter rhythms and interesting variations.

Reggae drums usually consist of a bass drum, snare, hi-hat, tom-toms and cymbals. The kick is played with the foot, while the snare and hi-hat are played with sticks. The tom-toms and cymbals are played with hands.

The Guitar

In Reggae, the guitar takes on a very important role. Much like in Jazz, the Reggae guitar is used to add texture and feeling to the music. Unlike Jazz, however, Reggae guitarists often use a “skank” style of playing. This involves strumming open chords with a percussive, syncopated rhythm. The result is a very laid-back sound that is perfect for Reggae’s relaxed vibe.

The Piano

The piano is a very important instrument in reggae music. It is used to create the chords that are so essential to the style. The music is often very syncopated, and the piano provides the foundation that the other instruments can play off of. The piano can also be used to create solos that are very beautiful and moving.

The Soul of Reggae

Reggae style is a form of music that arose in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The word reggae is derived from a slang word meaning “rags” or “ragged clothes.” It is characterized by a heavy bass and drumbeat, as well as by a distinctive guitar sound. Horns and strings are also often used in reggae music.

Rastafari

Rastafari is a religion that began in the 1930s in Jamaica. It is based on the belief that Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia, is the Messiah, and that black people are the rightful rulers of the world. Rastafarians also believe that marijuana is a holy herb and should be smoked as part of their religious practice.

Marcus Garvey

One of the most influential figures in Jamaican history, Marcus Mosiah Garvey was born in 1887 in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. A printer by trade, he later moved to Kingston where he became involved in politics and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), an organization dedicated to the betterment of life for all people of African descent. He also started a shipping company called the Black Star Line, which was intended to promote trade and economic development among black-majority nations. In 1920, Garvey traveled to Africa, where he helped spark a Pan-Africanist movement

Jamaica

Perhaps no other country is as synonymous with reggae music as Jamaica. The island nation in the Caribbean Sea has produced some of the most famous and influential reggae artists in history, including Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, and Toots Hibbert. Reggae music first emerged in the late 1960s, and it quickly gained popularity both in Jamaica and around the world. Reggae is a unique genre that blends elements of ska, rocksteady, and African big band music. The lyrics are often political or social commentary, and the music has a laid-back, relaxed feel. Jamaica is home to many different reggae subgenres, including roots reggae, dub, and dancehall.

The Future of Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae refers to the style of music that was created by Jamaican musicians and is characterized by a strong backbeat, the use of bass and drums, and an offbeat guitar strumming pattern.

Reggae Revival

Reggae Revival is a musical movement that arose during the late 2010s in Jamaica. The genre with its roots in ska, rocksteady and reggae, is a re-affirmation of Jamaica’s indigenous music culture, which had long been overshadowed by outside influences such as that of American R&B and British rock and roll.

The revival originated as a response to the declining popularity of dancehall music, which dominated the Jamaican airwaves throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Reggae Revival artists have modernized traditional reggae rhythms and melodies by incorporating elements of ragga and hip hop, while remaining true to the genre’s roots. The result is a sound that is fresh and contemporary while still being distinctly Jamaican.

The revival has been spearheaded by a number of young artists, including Chronixx, Protoje, Kabaka Pyramid, MORGAN Heritage, Jesse Royal and J Boog. These artists have brought renewed interest in reggae music both domestically and internationally, with several of them achieving mainstream success. The revival has also been bolstered by the success of Jamaican production duo Sly & Robbie, who have worked with many of the leading Revivalists.

The future of reggae looks bright as the genre continues to evolve and grow in popularity. With its positive message and catchy melodies, reggae is sure to continue entertaining audiences for many years to come.

Contemporary Reggae

Contemporary reggae is a genre of music that arose in the late 1960s. It is a direct descendant of ska and rocksteady, and incorporates elements of R&B, jazz, and dub. Contemporary reggae is also characterized by a strong island influence, which can be attributed to its Afro-Caribbean roots.

Contemporary reggae is typically very arranged, with intricate horn and string sections. The drumming is often very complex, and the overall sound is very polished. This type of reggae is often referred to as ” roots” or ” conscious” reggae, as it often deals with social and political issues.

Some well-known contemporary reggae artists include Bob Marley, burning Spear, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and Maxi Priest.