Most
styles and genres would speak about
"songs", but in Reggae Music this
is a little bit different. We don't speak
about "songs": in Reggae Culture
we speak about a Riddim.
It goes
even further, because Reggae itself is not
as much a genre but a specific form of
rhythm which can be played in a wide variety
of styles.
Jamaican
Reggae came into existence in the recording
studio's. Different singers would sing over
the same recordings, familiar basslines
would be re-played, and the recording itself
could be used in a wide variety of ways,
too.
So
especially in the studio's of today's (DUB)
Reggae artists, this is an absolutely
crucial piece of information. But not
everyone is aware of the implications of
this. Many will approach Reggae Music just
like they would approach any form of western
music.
Fortunately,
we have the Internet where we can find all
kinds of information, being put online by
people who we know to be knowledgeable.
Take Dougie
Wardrop and his Conscious Sounds studio, for
example. In three parts and coming from the
well-known Conscious Sounds Studio based in
the UK, here's a short tutorial on how to
construct a "riddim".
VIDEO 1
Most people
would start constructing their riddim by
creating a drum track. Using a sequencer, we
can witness how a steppers rhythm actually
comes into existence.
Using a
normal keyboard, linked to a computer
running a sequencer and different kinds of
hardware, the drums are played. Quantization
is used, just a little.
Bass drum,
Hi Hat, Snare, Percussion...
After the
raw rhythm is programmed, it's time for a
little fine tuning, a little addition of
certain subtle percussion style sounds.
VIDEO 2
After
constructing the Drum rhythm, it's time to
pay attention to the next section, often
called the "riddim section". These
would normally include a Piano and a Guitar
playing the "Skanks" on the 2nd
and 4th count of ever measure.
Starting
with the Piano: of course there's a hit on
the 2nd and 4th count. But also, just like a
drums or percussion instruments, there's
some creativity around it. And: not
everything is played that tight, which can
later be corrected by using the Quantization
function in the sequencer.
VIDEO 3
Time for the
last part: the bassline. A Reggae Riddim is
predominantly identified by it's bassline,
and so that is kind of important. Time for
Dougie Wardrop himself to play a little
bassline on the keyboard.
Listen to
the sound, that's the original Jah Warrior
Bass sound!
Time for a
little humor, too. See and smile
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