Reggae
is a style of music, which developed in the 1960 in Jamaica and other part
of the Caribbean. The instruments are mainly those of the pop group
including electric guitars and drum kit. It can also include the steel pans,
which are a particularly Caribbean instrument. They were first made out of
oil cans by poor Jamaicans but are now more professional.
The
sound of the reggae is special. There is often a strong melodic bass riff.
The chords and kit parts emphasise the 2nd and 4th
beat of the bar
The
lyrics can be political in character as well as about falling in and out of
love and other pop song subjects.
Bob
Marley is the main name associated with Jamaican Reggae. Bony-M are a mixed
group from England who use reggae as a part of their style and have recorded
‘Rivers of Babylon’ which has lyrics from the bible and brown Girl in
the Ring a Jamaican children’s song.
Back
to Compose Reggae