How To Reggae Music

Discover how to make reggae music that will have your friends and family dancing all night long!

What is Reggae Music?

Reggae music is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term “reggae” is derived from the word “rege-rege”, which means “rags” or “ragged clothing.” Reggae music is characterized by its laid-back, relaxed sound and its Jamaican patois lyrics. It is often slow and has a heavy bass line. Reggae music has been influenced by other genres of music, such as ska, rocksteady, and dub. Reggae artists include Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Sean Paul.

The Origins of Reggae Music

Reggae music has its origins in the early 1960s, in the Caribbean island of Jamaica. The music evolved out of a fusion of various other genres, including ska, rocksteady and mento. Reggae is usually played at a slow to medium tempo, with a strong accent on the off-beat. The lyrics are often focused on the themes of peace, love and unity.

Reggae music became popular internationally in the 1970s, thanks to the success of artists such as Bob Marley and the Wailers. Reggae has since undergone several different evolutions, and today there are many different subgenres of reggae, including dub, dancehall and roots reggae.

The Reggae Sound

The reggae sound is distinguishable by the following elements:

-The “riddim”: This is the music’s drum beat. The drum plays on the off beat, giving reggae its characteristic staccato feel.

-The “bass line”: This is the part of the music played by the bass guitar. The bass line emphasizes the off beat, giving reggae its signature sound.

-The “chords”: The chords in reggae are often played in a minor key, giving the music its melancholy feel.

-The “vocals”: Reggae vocals are typically sung in a patois, a dialect of English spoken in Jamaica. Patois has a singsong quality that is well suited to reggae’s staccato feel.

The Reggae Rhythm

The Reggae Rhythm

The reggae rhythm is characterized by a two-beat feel. The first beat is accented, while the second beat is unaccented. This off-beat feel is what gives reggae its characteristic swing. Most reggae songs are in a 4/4 time signature, which means that there are four beats in a measure and each quarter note gets one beat.

The drum pattern that reflects this two-beat feel is played on the ride cymbal, snare drum, and bass drum. The ride cymbal plays on the first and third beats of each measure, while the snare drum plays on the second and fourth beats. The bass drum plays on the downbeat of each measure (i.e., when the ride cymbal is played). This basic drum pattern is known as the one drop.

The Reggae Lyrics

Reggae music has been around for many years and has its origins in the music of Jamaica. The lyrics of reggae songs often focus on social, political, or religious issues. Reggae music is also known for its catchy rhythms and its ability to get people moving.

If you want to learn how to write reggae lyrics, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, the lyrics should tell a story or convey a message. Second, the lyrics should have a strong beat that can be easily followed. Third, the lyrics should include some elements of Rastafarian culture.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Start by brainstorming ideas for your song. What do you want to say? What is the main point you want to get across?

2. Once you have an idea of what you want to say, start writing out the lyrics. Keep the rhythm in mind as you write so that your words flow together nicely.

3. As you write, try to include some elements of Rastafarian culture in your song. This could include references to Jah (God), I-ration (peace), or Rastafari (the movement).

4. Once you have all of your lyrics written out, practice singing them with a Jamaican accent. This will help give your song an authentic feel.

5. If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas for your song, try listening to some classic reggae tunes for inspiration. Some good ones to check out include “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley and “Get Up Stand Up” by Peter Tosh.

The Reggae Artists

Reggae music has been around for a long time, and it has been constantly evolving. New genres and sub-genres are being created all the time. This can make it difficult to keep up with the latest trends in reggae music.

However, there are some artists who have been consistently putting out great reggae music for years. These are the artists you should be following if you want to stay up-to-date with the best that reggae music has to offer.

The artists on this list are all legends in the reggae world. They have all made significant contributions to the genre, and they have all released great music in recent years. If you want to stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest in reggae music, these are the artists you should be following.