Learning to Play Reggae

[johnp352]

One lickle ting that really helped me learn was to listen to versions, especially King Tubby sides.... on a lot of them, it's almost like listening to the bass soloed.

AFA 5 string bass..a lot of my favorite tunes were recorded with a Hofner beatle bass or an Epi Rivioli (the house bass at the Black Ark)..the mid 70's was when the jazz started showing up, as several of the bands began gaining international touring exposure. But...having said that..in most cases I think this is a really good example of the player not the ax.

 

[One Drop]

One lickle ting that really helped me learn was to listen to versions, especially King Tubby sides.... on a lot of them, it's almost like listening to the bass soloed.

AFA 5 string bass..a lot of my favorite tunes were recorded with a Hofner beatle bass or an Epi Rivioli (the house bass at the Black Ark)..the mid 70's was when the jazz started showing up, as several of the bands began gaining international touring exposure. But...having said that..in most cases I think this is a really good example of the player not the ax.

The Jazz Bass has a long and illustrious history in reggae, as does the P, dating back to Jackie Jackson at Treasure Island and Fams going over to one early '70s. I think a lot of Studio One tracks were recorded on Fenders by the likes of Leroy Sibbles and others as well. But yes a lot of fabulous tracks at the Black Ark were recorded in that Rivoli bass, and Fams' first proper bass was the Hofner he gave to Robbie Shakespeare, who used it to great effect at first until he found his voice on a J as well.

As mentioned before, Steinbergers were and still are popular, partly fashion and novelty at the time, but I'm sure their resistance to humidity played a large part in their acceptance by JA musicians.

I saw Sly and Robbie with a brand new Steinie, play a short set alone before backing up Black Uhuru in '78, no one had ever heard bass so clear and loud in Montreal before then. It was mind blowing, as was seeing guys like Gregory Isaacs and Burning Spear playing church basements and university cafeterias with huge rigs, Bassie playing the rooms with the sound bouncing around. It was truly a golden era with roots, DJ, Dub, and Rockers all happening, great songwriting and vocals, tight JA touring bands and a big Jamaican community coming out to shows, dreads and daughters in their party frocks rubbing shoulders with punks and college kids.

 

[Fxpmusic]

Sorry, but I'm gonna have to disagree with this. Clarity of thought and mind are imperative when playing music. ANY style of music.

I wasn't talking about obscurity of mind... Though of humorous nature, my remark does have a root. Reggae and Rastafarianism are close to one another. Cannabis is a Rasta sacrament that is believe by those who practice it to open the mind. Big part of those players we all learned from were under the influence when they wrote those records. I don't believe they were obscuring their thoughts and minds. One can argue that many other styles of music were highly influence by drugs and alcohol (and sadly because many great ones have died).

I personally don't even drink before playing live as I direct a band and deal with electronics and singing while playing bass. I'm not promoting the use of substances to numb, obscure or affect in any negative way ones thoughts. Each musician can decide on their own. I do not endorse just going to get high cause it is the cool thing to do and will make you write better music.

 

[DannyBob]

Sorry, but I'm gonna have to disagree with this. Clarity of thought and mind are imperative when playing music. ANY style of music.

The Beatles; Green Day; Red Hot Chili Peppers; and many more. Whether you like these bands or not, they are/were BIG. Like, hugely big, and they have all admitted that they wrote some of their best songs under the influence of drugs.

 

[Fxpmusic]

The Beatles; Green Day; Red Hot Chili Peppers; and many more. Whether you like these bands or not, they are/were BIG. Like, hugely big, and they have all admitted that they wrote some of their best songs under the influence of drugs.

Which is not to say it is the right thing to do. Nor I would ask somebody to go do some heroin or down a bottle of scotch to "write better music". The reason many of those songs were great is because they were honest to what the musicians were feeling.

 

[bass12]

I think the marijuana thing often gets romanticized a bit more than is appropriate when it comes to reggae. Sure, there have been a lot of rasta musicians and, no doubt, enough sessions where ganga smoke filled the air, but a lot of reggae musicians were not rasta. Furthermore, for some of these guys doing session work was their 9-5 and I'm willing to bet that getting stoned during a session would generally be frowned upon by the producer (I can't imagine someone like Coxsone Dodd going for that).

 

[Fxpmusic]

I think the marijuana thing often gets romanticized a bit more than is appropriate when it comes to reggae. Sure, there have been a lot of rasta musicians and, no doubt, enough sessions where ganga smoke filled the air, but a lot of reggae musicians were not rasta. Furthermore, for some of these guys doing session work was their 9-5 and I'm willing to bet that getting stoned during a session would generally be frowned upon by the producer (I can't imagine someone like Coxsone Dodd going for that).

And I stress... The ones that did it didn't see it as a party drug. It's not Sublime that we're talking about.

 

[Jim Carr]

Sorry, but I'm gonna have to disagree with this. Clarity of thought and mind are imperative when playing music. ANY style of music.

Yes. And your point is?

 

[pnchad]

oh man this thread brought back fun memories

I used to play regularly at The Clevelander on Miami (South) Beach - famous place at the heart of the action

anyway - outdoor pool deck 800 or so and more outside - huge old wooden stage - horrible to begin with for bass but we'd bi-amp with dual 18s and Crown 2500 Micros - OMG hahaha

 

[One Drop]

I think the marijuana thing often gets romanticized a bit more than is appropriate when it comes to reggae. Sure, there have been a lot of rasta musicians and, no doubt, enough sessions where ganga smoke filled the air, but a lot of reggae musicians were not rasta. Furthermore, for some of these guys doing session work was their 9-5 and I'm willing to bet that getting stoned during a session would generally be frowned upon by the producer (I can't imagine someone like Coxsone Dodd going for that).

I would never underestimate the influence of herb on Reggae music myself, and I've heard some funny stories about the musicians preferring certain studios because they knew it was tolerated to step outside for a smoke. IIRC Coxsone was okay with it if he didn't see it happening .

It wasn't just a Rasta thing, and some of the Rasta musicians didn't smoke while playing,especially drummers like Sly.

My personal views on Ganga are not important, but anyone who listens to Reggae owes it to themselves to listen to some heavy dub or righteous Rockers very loud after getting 'well red', at least once in their lives.

I can pretty much guarantee an 'oh, now I get it' moment. And you might not be able resist busting a skank, either.

 

[One Drop]

I like the way Fams sometimes attacks so behind the beat then hits the kick on every release. Keeps it steady.

Simple:

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Yes. And your point is?

My point is that there are many under age members of talkbass and certain opinions about certain topics should remain private.

 

[Jim Carr]

My point is that there are many under age members of talkbass and certain opinions about certain topics should remain private.

agreed.

 

[gmarcus]

Thanks for all of the comments and great constructive criticism. I'm the first to admit that I am a reggae bass beginner, but I love it and want to improve so I am taking this all in. A special thanks to Onedrop, you have some deep knowledge my friend and I really appreciate your generosity in sharing it here.

 

[gmarcus]

Gigs this weekend at the Barking Crab in Boston. Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5. Stop by and say hi if you are in town. There is no cover and you can just walk right into the door near the band. People tend to come and go all day. We had a group of Pirates on a pub crawl last week. It was hilarious. One of them introduced the band and actually did a good job. There were many joyous Aaaaars in the audience.

 

[halfjackson]

I stopped by for a drink last Saturday. You guys sounded great.

 

[One Drop]

Wish I could check you out, seems like a fun and talented band that's has a cool formula and great vibe.

 

[Jim Carr]

"Drop the one, mon!"

Riis

Yes, on 3 the snare and kick are "as one" a lot.
Beat one being somehow dropped by bass?
No, not so much, but some riddims have a rest on beat one.

 

[bass12]

I would never underestimate the influence of herb on Reggae music myself, and I've heard some funny stories about the musicians preferring certain studios because they knew it was tolerated to step outside for a smoke. IIRC Coxsone was okay with it if he didn't see it happening .

It wasn't just a Rasta thing, and some of the Rasta musicians didn't smoke while playing,especially drummers like Sly.

My personal views on Ganga are not important, but anyone who listens to Reggae owes it to themselves to listen to some heavy dub or righteous Rockers very loud after getting 'well red', at least once in their lives.

I can pretty much guarantee an 'oh, now I get it' moment. And you might not be able resist busting a skank, either.

I'll take your word for it, as I'm not sure I'll ever get around to trying weed.

 

[One Drop]

I'll take your word for it, as I'm not sure I'll ever get around to trying weed.

I'm glad I never did it as a teenager, a lot if my friends went in a bit heavy during High School and I waited until my twenties, probably a very good thing as I was unmotivated enough in school then as it was.

I'm all for personal choice but I think it's better to let our brains develop before playing around with them too much.