reggae guitar

[DocRoop]

i'm interested in learning reggae guitar but haven't been able to find any resources yet. anybody know of any sites that feature reggae intructions? or possibly, if someone here knows anything about reggae, run me through the basics and maybe answer a couple questions for me.

thanx, DocRoop

[FUNKGRAVY]

First things first - you'll need to light up a fat spliff! Hope I was of some help to you http://www.zentao.com/ubb/cool.gif http://www.zentao.com/ubb/tongue.gif

[ghodaddyyo]

They play average chords mostly, (Major/minor barre chords) and usually use the down stroke of the pick as a percussive accompaniment to the up stroked chord progression.

Red Red Wine - UB40 (intro)

-----2----2----3----3----5----5----5----5
-----3----3----3----3----5----5----5----5
-----2----2----2----2----4----4----4----4
--x----x----x----x----x----x----x----x----
--x----x----x----x----x----x----x----x----
--x----x----x----x----x----x----x----x----

The x's are palm muted down strokes, the chords are up strokes. Begin the song by singing the line "Red red wine-----" begin playing the measure above once you hit the word "wine----".

On the other hand, Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry" does not use this standard reggea rhythm style at all, and pretty much uses almost the same chord progression as Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight". I could compare/contrast these two songs if you like.

[This message has been edited by ghodaddyyo (edited March 29, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by ghodaddyyo (edited March 29, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by ghodaddyyo (edited March 29, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by ghodaddyyo (edited March 29, 2000).]

[DocRoop]

thanx for the info...

i'll add that progression to the multiple other reggae progressions i know (all three of them http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif ).

thanx for that percussive tip on the down strokes, adding that really helped get the riffs i know to have a more reggae sound. when i bring my hand down for the percussive click, that hand also mutes the chord for a staccato sound. i'm guessing that that's what i want to be going for, right? (sounds right to me anyways).

i noticed that the reggae progressions i know all use the top three strings for chords and are all syncopated. i'm guessing that's the staple of rhythm reggae guitar. any other common techniques that the rhythm guitarists use?

also, if i want to come up with my own progressions, are there any certain types commonly used (such as the I V IV of blues.)

i'll be getting a book or something soon to teach me all this stuff but until then all advice is greatly appreciated (where's that butt kissing smiley http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif )

on a side note, i gotta say, i really love this reggae rhythm stuff. no matter how hard it is for me to get into "the zone" when playing i can play a simple reggae progression over and over and they're nearly impossible to screw up terribly. there's almost a theraputic quality to it http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/cool.gif

and yes, i am curious to how you'ld compare/contrast those two songs.

[StoneDragon]

I haven't found a butt-kissing smilie yet... but I'm still looking. I have found some pretty good ones that I will be adding shortly though.

[DocRoop]

definately need a butt-kissing smiley. or at least one with a brown nose http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

[StoneDragon]

LOL