Reggae

[SpecterBass]

So I've seen threads on here about reggae before, but I was wondering if anyone could give advise on So-cal style reggae, from bands like Rebelution, Passafire, Tomorrows Bad Seeds, and SOJA (all relatively new) with tabs, and by ear a few times I can learn the songs, but I can't get the gist of it enough to write my own reggae lines, any help?

[Armbruster]

I've played in a few Long Beach stylee bands. I've actually had a beer (ssh... it's not illegal in some countries!) backstage with Passafire before. Their bassist, a really funky cat, has never cut his treble in his life, but that's because he's slapping instead of fingerstyle for his music. As for SOJA, I've played and hung out with Bob Jefferson before. He plays a Fender Victor Bailey 5 (his plays better than any other Fender I've felt, I guess it's just luck), with a GK 1001-RB, and a GK neo rig. I dig his tone, but it's a really easy tone to get. He just rolls off some, cuts some, and boosts the bass; finally- playing on the neck.

But, actually, it's all in the fingers. Use your meat of your tips. Slide off, don't pull off. Be silky.

Basically, the tone you're looking for is a lot of bottom, and cut the treble, but not all the way. I like my amps flat (or visually flat). You're going for a Roots Reggae tone, except you're not palm muting, and you're going to be more innovate/fast. Play up by the neck. Move down to the bridge for fills and faster parts. Take for example, my tone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4yR3F9E6ys

Use patterns. 'Santeria' by Sublime is a great way to start. Learn all the classic Reggae lines (eg. Stalag Riddim, Pass The Kutchie, etc.), then add your own touch. You don't want to be old a boring, be creative! Add patterns in the chord, for example:

G -------------
D -------------
A 5-------5---
E ---5-7------

Instead of just:

G -------------
D -------------
A 5-------5---
E -------------

Once in awhile, go back to old style Reggae. The basics are always nice to go back to, and it really makes for a good solid bass-line.

I suggest you take a listen to these songs and learn them:

'Latin Joint' by Chapter 11
'One More Time' by Mike Pinto
'Karma Police' by Easy Star All-Stars
'With A Little Help From My Friends' by Easy Star All-Stars
'Happy Song' by Kenyada
'Been Wishing On' by Big D And The Kids Table
'You And Me' by SOJA
'I Don't Wanna Wait' by SOJA
'So Good' by Stick Figure
'Black Eye' by Bargain Music
'Remedy' by Clear Conscience. GOOD!!
'And With It Rain' by Scotty Don't GOOD TOO!!
'Old Friend' by New School Dropouts
'Island Feeling' by Clear Conscience
'Good Highs' by Jah Roots Basically 'Stir It Up'...
'She's Gone' by One Drop

And you'll be all set. PM me if you have any questions. I'm huge into this scene.

[SpecterBass]

Alright, I'll do that, thanks a lot man

oh, and I saw Passafire open for Rebelution a few months ago and got front row center stage, they're both simply amazing

[wickedmrrogers]

Definitely study the godfathers of the SoCal style, Sublime. They bit a lot of their stuff off of old reggae riddems and put their own new school + punk spin on it. Pretty much the originators and masters of the sound that a lot of the new Socal style bands are using today (Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, The Expendables, Iration, Long Beach Dub Allstars, etc.)

You have to listen to a lot of reggae to get the feel. Absorb the classics.... all of Bob Marley's work, Peter Tosh, Toots & The Maytals, Black Uhuru, Jacob Miller & Inner Circle, Burning Spear, Steel Pulse, Barrington Levy, Dennis Brown, Eek-A-Mouse, Gregory Isaacs....do a little diggin on the internet theres a ton of great tunes out there and the bass is most always prominent in the song. That reggae feel is essential.

Theres a lot of bands out now making really great reggae based music, taking it in all kinds of different directions. Damien Marley doing the hip hop thing has an album out with Nas. The band Skindred plays a "ragga metal" style throwing heavy metal into the mix. Bands like The Aggrolites and The Slackers are playing a rocksteady style. Theres nice stuff comming out of NZ like The Black Seeds, Fat Freddys Drop, & Katchafire. John Browns Body plays a progressive style of reggae they call "future roots music".

Take in a lot of reggae and bring your other influences to the table too. everything's fair game, the more original the better right?

[VinKreepo]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but ska and punk TEND TO BE more chordal/arpeggio-like whereas reggae seems very linear and flowing, going up or down the scale to the next root note... also, punk an ska seem to be very consistent in note length, but reggae tends to vary to match the more complex drum beats... ummm for example a 16th note punk line:
_Gmaj____Dmaj6____Em____Cmaj______
G ------------------|-----------------|
D ----00------------|-----------------|
A --22--22-----0022|----22--33333333|
E 33---------22-----|0033--33--------|
B ---------33-------|-----------------|

Reggae line:
_Gmaj____Dmaj6____Em____Cmaj______
G ------------------|------------------|
D ------------------|------------------|
A ------------------|-------23-3-02---|
E 3-3-32-0---------|0-0-23---------02|
B ---------3-3-03-3|------------------|
[see how I break away from the basic chord structure and yet still stay in the scale? you can vary from the scale a little to give a flowing feel, but usually try to stick to the scale and try to stay on the root note for a bit then flow to the next note while match the drum beat]

"*-" is an 8th note "*" is a 16th note

NOTE: many punk bands use the flowing style, but they accent the beat more and have that consistent note structure... usually. There a exceptions to every rule, but my examples above give you a good idea on how to connect chords reggae style...