What are four main characteristics of reggae?

Answer 1

Reggae almost always comes in one speed; it is a moderate tempo that sometimes feels lackadazical, or lay back. Congas are a predominant instrument, and Guitars that are not modified much, strum out a repetitive rhythym. Popular singers are Jamaican orientated and can sing anything from political views to good advice; "Don't Worry, Be Happy!"

Answer 2

listen to is your self then youll find out

JK

it is slow tempo and smooth melody it features alot of different instruments and sounds they usually sound okay but there can be some bad parts:)

Answer 3

This answer is about traditional reggae or standard reggae, as it sounded between 1968 and 1985 and nowadays (among other things, to separate it from dancehall) is called roots reggae. The answer is also about international reggae. Therefore I do not enter the subject Rastafarian lyrics.

There is a dividing line between reggae and Western Pop Music. You can do reggae versions of all Western popular music songs, and all the reggae songs can be played as pop-, rock- etc. versions. You have a choice: do you want to hear reggae or western pop music? This is no joke, for those who like reggae often find themselves as they are a little (or a lot) outside the society or the System, or Babylon or Rome.

(1) Reggae is based on a rhythmic style characterized by accents on the off-beat, known as the skank. One guitar in reggae is the rhythm guitar. Many think that if you take away the rhythm guitar, the music no longer sounds like reggae. It usually plays the chords on beats two and four, a musical figure known as skank or the bang. It has a very dampened, short and scratchy chop sound, almost like a percussion instrument.

(2) Reggae drumbeats fall into three main categories: One drop, Rockers and Steppers. With the One drop, the emphasis is entirely on the third beat of the bar (usually on the snare, or as a rim shot combined with bass drum). Beat one is completely empty, which is unusual in popular music. With the Rockers beat, the emphasis is also on beat one (usually on bass drum). In Steppers, the bass drum plays four solid beats to the bar, giving the beat an insistent drive.

(3) The bass guitar plays a very dominant role in reggae, and the drum and bass together is often called the riddim (rhythm). Several reggae singers have released different songs recorded over the same riddim. The bass sound in reggae is thick and heavy, and equalized so the upper frequencies are removed and the lower frequencies emphasized. The bass line is often a simple two-bar riff that is centered around its thickest and heaviest note. The bass line in the Jamaican reggae band Toots & the Maytals' song 54-46 Was My Number is the most famous and sampled/stolen bass line in the world - it has been used in songs in movies from Bollywood to the Eurovision Song Contest.

(4) Reggae lyrics is noted for its tradition of social criticism (and among artists with Rastafarian beliefs is the solution to live in an "African Way" while waiting for the exodus to a spiritual or real homeland in Africa - Mount Zion in Ethiopia). Reggae is furthermore clearly anti-racist(which it not always was among rastafari-believing singers before 1975).

Although, many reggae songs discuss lighter, more personal subjects, and it can be about almost everything, themes which are not common in Western popular music: A man sees that the neighbor has wife and child and sings that he also has to get a woman who can give him a baby boy and a baby girl. A very popular song in the 1970s was about a bus that drove to death a goat, the goat was fried and all the bus passengers (who happened to be starving people from Kingston slums) got themselves a real meal. Many songs are about children who are working hard to help their families (usually the father is dead). Many reggae songs are about reggae, such as about music's healing power. Reggae Lyrics are almost always against party politics, but may be political in a different plane. There are many very beautiful and uplifting lyrics. A special sub-genre is called Lovers' Rock, and the themes are unrequited love, unhappy mood after separation or about successful sex experiences.

There are songs about riots, protests against street violence (especially in Kingston), songs that condemns alcohol and drugs (except marijuana). The perspective is becoming increasingly international when more and more reggae festivals are arranged around the world. Artists call the audience "the international reggae family," as if they were a separate tribe with people who believe in peace and universal oneness.

Answer 4

Reggae has a few different forms; one drop, rock steady, and rockers are three of these. One drop is usually bass heavy with a bass drum beat on the 4th beat and a scratchy-staccato guitar chord pattern on the 2nd and 4th beat. There may also be keyboards in counterpoint to the guitar , different percussion instruments, and horns as well.

Answer 5

A lot of singing, and a repetitive rhythm with a constant speed, as well as a happy tone to get you in that great mood.