Reggae Music and Reggae History 101
Reggae is a genre that grew out of several other musical styles, including both traditional and contemporary Jamaican music, like ska and mento, as well as American R&B. In the early days of radio, stations were super-high-powered, and several stations from Florida and New Orleans were powerful enough to reach Jamaica, thus the R&B influence. Reggae evolved from these other genres, and really emerged as a unique form in the late 1960s. Characteristics of the "Riddim" Reggae is characterized by a heavy backbeated rhythm, meaning the emphasis of the beat is on, for example, beats 2 and 4, when in 4/4 time. Rastafarianism Rastafarianism is a religion that is very common among Jamaicans of African descent. Popularity of Reggae in the United States Bob Marley was reggae's best-known international ambassador. Artists like Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh, among others, were also integral to the spread of the genre. Marijuana and Reggae Read More: Why Did Bob Marley Smoke Marijuana? Reggae Language
Instruments
how to play reggae - The Top 10 Reggae Instruments and Some
Here are the top 10 reggae instruments you will see in most reggae band and hear on most reggae recordings. Let me reiterate, these are just the top 10 reggae instruments and some, please note that any instrument can be used in reggae. Peter Tosh was known to have used up to twent y reggae instruments at a time to record. 1. The Guitar Where would reggae be without the tired but true sound of the reggae guitar? 2. The bass is the most important reggae instrument. 3. As a reggae instrument the piano is hardly used these days for obvious reasons. 4. These days when people speak of reggae instruments the organ does not readily springs to mind. 5. The clavinet like the upright piano and many other reggae instruments, is not used much these days but when it is used it adds interest and difference to the sound. 6. The reggae keyboard is the most flexible of all the reggae instruments and it has made many reggae instruments redundant in many bands. 7. 8. 9. 10. And Some
Origins of Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broad sense to refer to most types of popular Jamaican dance music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that evolved out of the earlier genres like Ska and Rocksteady. Bob Marley is said to have claimed that the word reggae came from a Spanish term for "the king's music". For more information on Reggae click here!
Reggae Music 101 - A Quick History
By Megan Romer The Beginning: Reggae is a genre that grew out of several other musical styles, including both traditional and contemporary Jamaican music, like ska and mento, as well as American R&B. In the early days of radio, stations were super-high-powered, and several stations from Florida and New Orleans were powerful enough to reach Jamaica, thus the R&B influence. Characteristics of the "Riddim": Reggae is characterized by a heavy backbeated rhythm, meaning the emphasis of the beat is on, for example, beats 2 and 4, when in 4/4 time. Rastafarianism: Rastafarianism is a religion that is very common among Jamaicans of African descent. continue reading below our video Popularity of Reggae in the United States: Bob Marley was reggae's best-known international ambassador. Marijuana and Reggae: In Rastafarian practices, marijuana is used as a sacrament; the belief is that it brings a person closer to God and makes the mind more open to receiving His testimony. Reggae Language:
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History of Reggae | Roots, Rock, Reggae
As the short-lived era of rocksteady came to a close in 1968, a new type of rhythm started to emerge from Jamaica. The defining characteristic of this new sound was the ‘shuffle’- choppy sounding chords that give reggae music that distinctive sound which you can hear coming in 5 seconds in to this 1969 record, one of the first reggae recordings. From 1968-1970 reggae began to find its feet. During this period of ‘early reggae,’ the Rastafarian influence of roots reggae had not yet taken full effect. Instead, this period saw reggae begin to create that sound that distinguishes it from rocksteady; a slightly faster feel and heavy organ lines. As the early 1970s went on, reggae music began to gain international acclaim. One of the reasons reggae music had and continues to have such an impact is the weighty religious, social and political themes that enveloped the genre in the 1970s. By 1975 Reggae Music was in a golden age. The late 1970s and early 1980s saw a big shift in Jamaican music.
