Year 8 · Music · Chords and genres · Lesson 3

Reggae

Reggae: Jamaican origins (ska, rocksteady), the off-beat skank, one-drop drums, melodic bass and riddim, lyrics and key artists, and reggae in Britain, with audio examples.

17-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

Describe the origins of reggae
Identify the skank and one-drop rhythm
Explain the role of the bass
Plan a reggae groove

The method

Laid-back tempo.
One drop.
Bass riff.
Skank on 2 and 4.

Key words: reggae, Jamaica, skank, off-beat, one drop, riddim, Bob Marley, syncopation.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

In which country did reggae begin?

Step 1: Caribbean

Answer: Jamaica

Question 2

In which decade did reggae begin?

Step 1: Late...

Answer: the late 1960s

Question 3

Which two styles came before reggae?

Step 1: S..., R...

Answer: ska and rocksteady