The One Drop in Reggae

[Mr. Acrolite]

Originally posted by Randy Walker:
Another kewl example is Tommy Aldridge on the Pat Travers cd Crash and Burn.Title track, Tommy plays the 1 drop on the snare instead of cross stic.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I love that groove - that was one of my favorite PT songs to play. Travers told me that Tommy had a hard time learning that groove. Pat can play a little drums himself, and when he went on his Bob Marley kick he tried to teach Tommy to play that reggae beat, and it took a while!

On the record Tommy does a good job with it, but you'll notice he keeps his part simpler than on most of his other recordings. But still, it's a classic. That record and the live one (Go for what you know) are my favorite PT albums with Tommy - he kills on those!

Mr. A.

[beats]

About 25 years ago here in Canada there was a poppy reggae band called the Satellites.Based out of Toronto,they were the premiere(next to Messanjah)reggae band of Canada.

After thier major label debut had run its course,a few of the guys ran a school that taught reggae/carribean music.

An old punk rock friend of mine,a fine musician named Jon Teskey went to this school.

In 83-89,the punk rock scenes worldwide had a serious affinity for reggae.Jon out grew most punk and was regarded in my home town(Regina Saskatchewan,Canada)as a 'white dread'.He could play authentic reggae bass.He knew all the ins and outs.

My parents took me to see Peter Tosh when i was 9.All my('cept the first one) Clash vinyl featured reggae/dub.I loved the Police.In fact the Police opened up for Peter Tosh when i saw them.

Suffice to say i loved the music and spent a good year playing reggae VERY BADLY!!!!

That is until Jon came back from TO and knew i loved the music,but didnt have the right amount of info and knowledge.

Reggae is very much like jazz in that it is a total attitude.

Like my friend Jon, i get very cranky hearing reggae(whether its roots/dub/dancehall..etc....)played badly.

One drop is 2+4.Rim-shot+kick played together. It depends on how u count it.

Lotsa different cats feel reggae differently.

Whats considered one drop,was invented by Lee Scratch Perry(my fave little freak of nature).In fact the 'modern' Marley/Wailers albums are rhythms and concepts invented by Perry. He changed them from a very sloppy poor boy Ska band into the music force they are today.

Lee Scratch Perry is a great start on researching beats.

Theres a guy who i love that mixes Jazz with Reggae feels,cant remember the drummers name,but the artist is 'Linton Kwesei Johnson'. He is a genius.'Da eagle and da Bear' must be owned(u wont be dissapointed).

Ska is older than modern reggae.

Reggae birthed modern hip hop turntable attitudes

Reggae bass is the foundation for drum'n bass.

RIDDUM !!!!!,ill post more....beats.

[Randy walker]

1 more fine example. Jeff Porcaro on the tune Somewhere Tonight from the Farenheit cd. 4 on the floor kic 1 drop on the 3 with cross stic later by snare.

[beats]

Word up Randy,that is a wonderful Porcaro take on the reggae feel.(Man music needs Jeff and Tony back-lol)

Vinnie plays magnificent authentic one drop-reggae style.

Last night i witnessed my good friend/mentor Ray Garroway just killin some serious Reggae grooves.We talked about this thread for awhile.

Reggae=panty remover......................beats

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 07, 2003 04:13 PM: Message edited by: beats ]</font>

[aateboul]

Originally posted by Burzmali:
Cool subject, I know a bit about it since I used to play in a reggae/ska band...

Ska also differs from reggae in the the way you play the hihat. Most ska drummers play the hihat on the 1, the & of 1, and the & of two (repeating this pattern for beats three and four)like so: HHPH HHPH (P stands for pause) while closing the hihat on 2 and opening it again on the & of two,
like this:
OOCO OOCO (O equals open, C equals... well you get the idea, no use being redundant)

This is just the basic pattern, most drummers improvise on this, a really common lick to play over the ska beat is this:

16th notes (H equals hihat):

HPHH PHHP HPHH PHHP

Then the snare plays side stick on 2 and 4, the bass drum usually also plays on 2 and 4, but is usually somewhat improvised and/or follows the bass line...

Some great drummers to hear playing in this style are Lloyd Knibb of The Skatalites and more recently, Allen Teboul of The Slackers

A related style is the burru, where you play usually play the bass drum on 2 and the & of two (repeating this for beat four) like this:

PPBB PPBB

the snare kind of improvises over this in a ska type fashion... it's also common to splash the hihat on two and four.... some songs go back and forth between the two, so knowing the burru can come in handy...

If you need some more listening examples or info please let me know...

Good luck,

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hey man,

Thank you very much for the compliment. If it wasn't for Lloyd Knibbs I would have never learned as much as I have. He was the first person to introduce me to the buru rhythm. It is heart-warming to know that at least all the hard work or rehearsing, touring and recording does not go unrecognized. It really makes one feel a nice sense of self-worth.
I am currently looking for players for a traditional grass-roots ska band here in NYC. Any takers.