Reggae
Origins
Reggae grew out of the traditional music of the Caribbean, specifically Jamaica. The earliest form of Reggae, known as Ska, was heavily influenced by Jazz that musicians would hear on radio broadcasts from the USA. From Ska, grew rock steady, and from that, in the late 60s, grew Reggae as we know it today.
Musical Fingerprints
Instrumentation: Vocals, drum kit, bass and electric guitar, organ, sometimes synths, brass and other percussion.
Time Signature/Rhythm: Always in 4/4. The emphasis is on the 3rd beat of the bar. Off-beat rhythms, often played by guitar and/or piano, are called ‘skank’ rhythms.
Tempo: It was the development of rock steady from ska music that bought the slower tempo to reggae.
Lyrical Content: Originally love songs, but following Jamaican independence in 1962, lyrics became more political.
Harmony: Usually quite simple chords.
Technological Fingerprints
Heavily compressed bass sound, often with low pass filter applied.
Drum kit also gated and compressed to give a more ‘punchy’ sound.
Snare often tuned very high to sound more like timbales.
Guitar and piano made thin with EQ (high pass filter)
Lots of reverb and delay.
Artists
Bob Marley, Peter Josh, Gregory Isaacs.