TransistorBassMan Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 [quote name='dumelow' post='1092086' date='Jan 17 2011, 02:12 AM']definitely learn some maytals[/quote] Can't go wrong with the Maytals. See if you can find their track "One Eye Enos" Toots & The Maytals or Bob Marley & The Wailers are great places to start. In my experience playing reggae, what you don't play is as important as what you do play. There's a lot of space in there. Some recommended listening Under Mi Sensi - Barrington Levy Operation Radicaton - Yellowman Welcome To Jamrock - Damian Marley Another One Bites The Dust - Clint Eastwood & General Saint Want Fi Goh Rave - Linton Kwesi Johnson Enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 ... also, listen to plenty of early ska and rocksteady - e.g. Maytals, Skatalites and so on. That's where the real Jamaican basslines are found, in my humble opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raslee Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) Nice one (or should i say raspek) for getting to Jamaica! Best advice i got was to try and relax behind the beat, smile and feel the vibe. Get a really good bass sound too, one that you can feel more than you can hear it may be worth learning a few classic riddims too as that is a big thing in Jamaican music. Classic riddims will make a good practice and a bit of good reggae knowledge - look on youtube for Stalag, Swing easy, Real Rock, Sleng Teng, Drifter, Cuss Cuss, Full Up (As in pass the kutchie/dutchie ), Queen of the minstrels, Revolution riddim, Promised land, One drop etc etc...there's thousands of riddims but jus learn a couple of the classics as mentioned, many a singer will put a version on the riddim-i play with 3-4 singers doing different vocal versions but with the same music, t'is most economical . Here's a band i play with doing a version on Queen of the Minstrels: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VYQEjQF4L0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VYQEjQF4L0[/url] Edited January 17, 2011 by Rasta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMech Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) I bet this kid in 10 years time will be able to tell you: Edited January 17, 2011 by Zach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan670844 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) [quote name='fryer' post='1091130' date='Jan 16 2011, 10:03 AM']I may have a chance to tour with my mate's reggae band, in JAMAICA. So I've gotta learn some reggae. How ??[/quote] Most important thing to learn in my opinion is the drum beats, you need to know what One drop, Rockers and Steppers are etc, what they sound like and where the bass fits in with the Riddum with these beats. Always play loose on the beat drag and forward. Its is fun to play, but you need to know where you are all the time, yes reggae dudes play loose on the beat i.e. around the pocket, but they always know where they are, playing loose is a way of adding tension and release into the music........... Have Fun I love Reggae and old school ska, but I would only have a go at white boy Reggae! gettin the feel of it is genetic, its a lot harder than you think! Edited January 17, 2011 by dan670844 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 [quote name='Zach' post='1092706' date='Jan 17 2011, 04:34 PM']I bet this kid in 10 years time will be able to tell you: [/quote] BRILLIANT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Some Reggae for you, and the bass players: Pluto Shevington [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Al6VZK9ABQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Al6VZK9ABQ[/url] Errol Holt [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cM1i4rD838"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cM1i4rD838[/url] Richard Daley [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVGI_G8AH68"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVGI_G8AH68[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Maybe check out some drumming videos too so you know what you're playing along to: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUTKXTxPkVQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUTKXTxPkVQ[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtdcdiRWeqI&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtdcdiRWeqI...feature=related[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) The wisdom Band are a long established reggae band formed in the early 80s in London and it's a great opportunity to join them - I would jump at the chance. Their latest single 'Migration Season' is a superb slice of horns driven rockers riddim: Discography here: [url="http://www.facebook.com/discography/?id=154325311249059"]http://www.facebook.com/discography/?id=154325311249059[/url] Edited January 17, 2011 by redstriper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryer Posted January 17, 2011 Author Share Posted January 17, 2011 [quote name='redstriper' post='1092949' date='Jan 17 2011, 07:05 PM']The wisdom Band are a long established reggae band formed in the early 80s in London and it's a great opportunity to join them - I would jump at the chance. Their latest single 'Migration Season' is a superb slice of horns driven rockers riddim: Discography here: [url="http://www.facebook.com/discography/?id=154325311249059"]http://www.facebook.com/discography/?id=154325311249059[/url][/quote] I knew they have been around for a while. I've known the singer Wayne ( Marcus ) for a few years, and he's a lovely bloke, and we've played together a few times. But that is the first time I've seen their video. I didn't realise they were that good. And he's asked me to go with them to Jamaica. Not to replace thier bassist, just to join in. Maybe I'll just mime ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 [quote name='fryer' post='1093274' date='Jan 17 2011, 11:04 PM']I've known the singer Wayne ( Marcus ) for a few years, and he's a lovely bloke, and we've played together a few times. *snip* And he's asked me to go with them to Jamaica.[/quote] I think you probably already know how to play reggae better than anyone else on this forum... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryer Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share Posted January 18, 2011 [quote name='dlloyd' post='1093322' date='Jan 17 2011, 11:48 PM']I think you probably already know how to play reggae better than anyone else on this forum... [/quote] No, we didn't play any reggae - we tried other stuff ( music ) , like Bob Dylan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 [quote name='fryer' post='1093342' date='Jan 18 2011, 12:08 AM']No, we didn't play any reggae - we tried other stuff ( music ) , like Bob Dylan.[/quote] Well, you've obviously got something he thought he could use, and after doing it for 30 years, you'd think he'd know what he was looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransistorBassMan Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 BBC Four Reggae documentaries etc - Feb 2010 [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/01_january/04/reggae.shtml"]BBC Four - Skanking [/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algmusic Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 [quote name='cytania' post='1091242' date='Jan 16 2011, 12:00 PM'][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-dAZrBlGOY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-dAZrBlGOY[/url][/quote] Great lesson on playing that style, but bad example of actually playing it, it was very clinical. Check out Bob M, Ernest Ranglin, easy all stars - dub side of the moon... all the other guys that were mentioned Play with a drummer who plays this as their first love, if you can The feel is the most important thing. I played with a drummer was excellent at reggae, it's a feel thing, the bass much the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffo Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 [quote name='fryer' post='1091375' date='Jan 16 2011, 02:05 PM']So I just need the ganja, and I'll be ok ?? Thanks for all the tips guys. I'll get watching and practising.[/quote] I play in a reggai/skar band, to give you a basic idea, first just think route note and low 5th's if your timing is good that will instantley give that backbeat feel. Also thing triads, ie route 3rd then 5th, this is what the old madness lines were about, I know thats not reggai but slo it down with a backbeat feel. And remember SPACES MAKE BASS'S oh yes and dn't forget the ganja man.( only kidding, those were the days) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 One way to think about reggae is that in rock music the drums lay down the beat and the bass is a more musical and tempo varied front to it. In reggae the bass IS the solid beat and the drums often skat around it in fantastic ways, listen to 'Funky Kingston' by Toots and the Maytals, even as a hardened bassist you finding yourself wanting to do those wonderful fills. Part of this is early reggae drummers often working from a big conga set with one drum stick and they really put in some great skiddly-diddly type beats. The other thing I notice with reggae (it's like a mystery novel I keep returning to - a few weeks ago BBC 4 did a whole season that revived my interest) is that in alot of the Rockers lines the bass leads to the 3. The melodic/rhythmic push takes yours ears to the 3 no matter what the drummer is playing to behind. There are lots of exceptions though, my least favourite are the fast steppers which have an almost a military snare roll going on. Too fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 [quote name='algmusic' post='1103849' date='Jan 26 2011, 03:28 PM']The feel is the most important thing. I played with a drummer was excellent at reggae, it's a feel thing, the bass much the same[/quote] I never realised how much swing has to go into reggae. That Ed Friedland clip was like listening to a jazz bass line being played without any swing. Something you have to learn from listening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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