Reggae

• Where is the history of reggae music primarily rooted?

  In the Caribbean, specifically Jamaica
• What type of sound did mento music feature compared to reggae?


  Mento music featured a more acoustic sound
• What instruments were commonly used in mento music?


  Acoustic guitars, banjos, and handclaps
• How did the rhythms and syncopation of mento influence reggae?


  They were an early influence on the feel of reggae
• What music genre did Jamaican musicians start playing in the early 1950s?


  Ska music
• What was the basis of ska music in Jamaica?


  Jazz music from radio broadcasts in the southern USA
• What distinctive feature did Jamaican musicians incorporate into jazz style music?


  The Jamaican rhythms from mento music
• What is the off-beat chop in reggae sometimes referred to as?

  The ‘skank’
• How did artists vary the patterns in reggae music?


  By adding extra on and off beat notes along with syncopation
• How do drum kit patterns in reggae differ from other genres?


  Reggae emphasizes beat 3, known as the drop
• What is the name of the drum beat that emphasizes beat 3 in reggae?

  The ‘one drop’ drum beat
• What are the later famous reggae drumbeats mentioned?

  The ‘steppers’ and the ‘rockers’ drumbeats
• How did rock steady evolve from ska?


  With a slowing of the tempo and more emphasis on the rhythm section
• What lyrical content did rock steady feature?


  Elements of political consciousness, love songs, and party tunes
• What happened to reggae's popularity in the late 1960s?


  It began to become more popular with a further slowing of the tempo
• How did the role of bass players change in reggae during the late 1960s?


  Bass players could explore more elaborate parts and increased syncopation
• What are ‘dub’ versions in reggae music?


  Instrumental versions that accentuated the rhythms and bass line
• How did the lyrical content of Jamaican music evolve post-independence?


  It began to feature overt statements in social, religious, and political topics
• Who were influential artists in the development of reggae's lyrical content?

  Bob Marley and the Wailers
• What was the general attitude of lyrical content in ska and rock steady post-independence Jamaica?


  It was largely positive
• What are the common features shared by ska, rock steady, and reggae music?


  • All derived from the same historical development
  • Share many common features
  • Each is a development of the previous genre
• What are the key characteristics of reggae music?


  • Emphasis on off-beat rhythms
  • Use of the ‘one drop’ drum beat
  • Prominent bass lines and syncopation
  • Lyrical content addressing social and political issues