Reggae
Roots · 1968 · 60 to 90 BPM
Reggae is a root here, not a branch. Jamaican reggae gave the world the sound system, the bass as foundation, the instrumental version and a remix culture before the word even existed: dub descends directly from it, and with dub, half of British bass music. SONAA does not develop this lineage further, since its scope is electronic music; reggae appears here as the parent of everything it handed down, from dub to UK funky.
11 reference tracks
- The Upsetters: Return of Django (1969)
- Toots & The Maytals: Pressure Drop (1969)
- Burning Spear: Marcus Garvey (1975)
- Junior Murvin: Police and Thieves (1976)
- Bob Marley & The Wailers: Could You Be Loved (1980)
- Desmond Dekker & The Aces: Israelites (1968)
- The Abyssinians: Satta Massagana (1969)
- Augustus Pablo: King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown (1976)
- Culture: Two Sevens Clash (1977)
- Gregory Isaacs: Night Nurse (1982)
- The Congos: Fisherman (1977)
At a glance
- Tempo: 60 to 90 BPM
- First appeared: 1968
- Machines: Sound system, Console de mixage, Réverbération à ressort, Chambre d'écho, Basse électrique
- The sound: Sound system et caisson de basse, Console de studio (King Tubby, Lee Perry), Chambre d’écho et réverbération à ressort, Basse électrique en fondation, Version instrumentale sur face B
- Labels: Island Records, Studio One, Treasure Isle, Trojan, Upsetter Records
- Key artists: Bob Marley, Toots & The Maytals, Lee « Scratch » Perry, King Tubby, Junior Murvin, Burning Spear
Producing Reggae
Reggae plays at a felt 60 to 90 BPM, often notated 120 to 180 by electronic producers, the feel resting on two things: the one drop, weight on beat 3 rather than 1, and the skank, guitar and organ chords struck on the offbeats, played with a light swing, ahead of the beat and behind on the 3. Three drum patterns matter: the one drop, kick and rimshot together on 3 with nothing on 1; the rockers, kick on all four beats with rimshot on 3; and the heavier steppers. The bass is the foundation, a muted, deep fingered Fender playing a two-bar riff that defines the whole riddim, with long silences and a held note on the 3. On top, offbeat skank guitar doubled by a bubbling organ and short spring reverb on the snare.
The full production course, in French: tempo, drums, bass, sounds, arrangement, mix, plugins and machines, and a step by step start.
Frequently asked
What is Reggae?
Reggae is a root here, not a branch. Jamaican reggae gave the world the sound system, the bass as foundation, the instrumental version and a remix culture before the word even existed: dub descends directly from it, and with dub, half of British bass music. SONAA does not develop this lineage…
What tempo is Reggae played at?
Between 60 and 90 BPM.
Who are the key Reggae artists?
Bob Marley, Toots & The Maytals, Lee « Scratch » Perry, King Tubby, Junior Murvin, Burning Spear.
