70's Reggae sound

[some jive turkey]

A friend of mine is trying to replicate the drum sound of 70's reggae. I think it's Carlton Barret's sound that he wants.
It's a really dead, dry staccato sound. You all know it, you've all heard it,.....

Granted it's not my favorite sound, I'm trying to help him get what he wants. My initial suggestion, was something along the lines of "they might not even use reso heads". I think he's getting new batters and is asking about single/double ply,...coated/clear. I don't know what works well without any reso heads on toms, so I'm hesitant to tell him what to get.

Other factors are the muffles inside the toms, which I suppose are used to dampen any ringing......Moon Gel was another suggestion of mine. (though I have never used it)

Anyone have suggestions?

[Cocaberry]

Try coated G2s or coated emps with no resos.

[We_Love_Lime]

Yeah.
I think I once saw him using toms with no reso (Concert Toms) with a clear head w/ dot.

I'm assuming it was 1ply.

[Mr Pink]

I googled raggae pics and it appears they did and still are using "concert" toms. I saw a few pic where the drummer has a felt strip across the shell and under a clear CS head. Can't get much more dead than that. Snares all look to be metal too.
Rasta, mang.

[ofDooM]

Clear CS Dot heads and some dampening will get it pretty close.

[We_Love_Lime]

Seems as if the CS Dot is most reliable, I don't know about the coated g2 though...

[stevensonmat2]

anyone know of good books for learning reggae?/hijack >.<

[Janeway]

Throw a towel over the drums.

Reggae isn't exactly scientific.

[White Riot!]

single headed drums

[some jive turkey]

...appreciate the suggestions. Thanks guys.


. . .
Yeah, metal snares are where it's at for reggae. I think metal snares sound very fitting for anything caribbean or latin.


anyone know of good books for learning reggae?/hijack >.<
I don't think there are any books. I have looked. In the 80s, Carmine Appice published "realistic reggae rock" or something like that (probabaly inspired by Stewart Copeland), but it's long out of print.

[White Riot!]

Metal snares all the way. Im partial to brass though (mmmm brass!)

here is some reggae lessons I found

http://cultv.com/artists/rilko/drumlessons/onedropreggae/chapter1.htm

[White Riot!]

hard to read , but pages and pages of the stuff

http://cultv.com/artists/rilko/drumlessons/onedropreggae/scans/OneDropReggae04.gif

[We_Love_Lime]

anyone know of good books for learning reggae?/hijack >.<

Just listen to Reggae.

It's mostly about feel anyways.
Reggae unfortuantly is not as popular as it should be.

[White Riot!]

Reggae unfortuantly is not as popular as it should be.

Reggae has always been big in the U.K , the problem is Reggae isnt really a commercial music. Reggae has big rebel roots when you look closely into it. Making it big will be reducing that rebel influence to make it appeal to the american market.

America loves bob marley but they only like the poppier stuff he did rather than the more social commentary he did. Stuff like "Stand Up" will never be as popular as songs like "is this love" and "I shot the sheriff" etc etc

UB40 is really a pop band and they have had massive sucess for yonkers

All in all , im glad reggae has stayed semi underground for all these years , it means that the listeners wont be so jaded or elitist

[We_Love_Lime]

Well yeah.

But I mean not neccesarily reggae, but the whole. Reggae vibe.
It doesn't have to have the rebelious lyrics in it, I love the instrumentals.

Stuff like Black Uhuru, Toots and the Maytals. Some of their stuff was speaking out, but some of it was just really chill music, and It's sad that more people in the States don't listen to it.

I finally found some kids at my HS who dig people like Hieroglyphics, as apposed to My Chemical Romance. But yeah, I heard the UK was into the whole Dub Scene, plus many Reggae artists went over there for Studios etc..


Dude...
Stand Up is in No way Poppy.
Unless your NOT Talking about Get Up Stand Up, than in that case, I havn't heard the song.
And I shot the Sherrif is a pretty rebelious song.

The title gives most of it away, and than the lyrics give the other half.
I shot the Sherriff is a pretty popular song too since Clapton covered it.

Is this Love I understand.


And I don't think "Making Reggae Music Big" will in anyway reduce its "Rebel Influence"
I can see where you might be coming from.
American Market = White, so than they might not like it.

But the whole reason they are speaking out is so that they can be HEARD!
They are trying to express what goes on in the world and if no one hears it, no one can help. Reggae has changed a bit over the years, but the initial message remains the same.

[stevensonmat2]

thanks for the site riot. yeah Ive been listening to alot of reggae and(mostly dub) and I guess I could just lsiten and try to replicate it but I think a book on the intricacies and various patterns of regae style would be very helpful. My bro saw the easy star all stars the other night, I couldnt go though I was so sad. :'(

[White Riot!]

Dude...
Stand Up is in No way Poppy.



And I don't think "Making Reggae Music Big" will in anyway reduce its "Rebel Influence"
I can see where you might be coming from.
American Market = White, so than they might not like it.

Im not really saying that , im just saying to be hugely popular in the states you have to have some commericial tendancies , whether it be pop lyrics , cheesy cliche image or whatever.....

Its kinda hard for dub to ever be largely popular , unless it gets some exposure through DJ's and dance music in europe. I always kinda liked reggae's edge to it. I suppose you have a point about exposure. I think the exposure is their to start with by the likes of bob marley (everyone loves it almost) but its kinda hard to match the benchmark of the wailers and marley without becoming too poppy. The reggae community is really close knit

[White Riot!]

thanks for the site riot. yeah Ive been listening to alot of reggae and(mostly dub) and I guess I could just lsiten and try to replicate it but I think a book on the intricacies and various patterns of regae style would be very helpful. My bro saw the easy star all stars the other night, I couldnt go though I was so sad. :'(

No problem man , Reggae is a love of mine. Dub and Reggae are interchangable when it comes to drumming really. Just add flanger effects to your drums if you want to play dub! (lol) and ripp off dub breaks and put them into reggae drumming.

Developing a great sounding one drop feel is probably the most important aspect to the style , having your cymbals fluid and your rimclicks tight.

[Sync0pation]

White Riot thanks for the sheet music, I will be working that out soon

[We_Love_Lime]

Im not really saying that , im just saying to be hugely popular in the states you have to have some commericial tendancies , whether it be pop lyrics , cheesy cliche image or whatever.....

Its kinda hard for dub to ever be largely popular , unless it gets some exposure through DJ's and dance music in europe. I always kinda liked reggae's edge to it. I suppose you have a point about exposure. I think the exposure is their to start with by the likes of bob marley (everyone loves it almost) but its kinda hard to match the benchmark of the wailers and marley without becoming too poppy. The reggae community is really close knit

Ahh I see.
Yeah I understand.

But I don't really wanna think. Get Up Stand Up, and I Shot the Sherrif were based off commercial tendencies and pop lyrics, yet they were still popular.
I think people just have become accustemed to really bad music.

Yeah, no One can match Peter Tosh, Marley, Bunny Wailer, but they continue with their own thing.
Damian Marley for instance, has taken a more toaster influence in his music, with a more hip-hop rapping style. Non of it has been poppy.

I think Reggae Musicians are smart enough to know what they want out of their music, and are smart enough to know what they can do and what they can't do, and know what their expecatations are. And I think Current ones carry them out well without being poppy at all.

I'm just saying its a shame people odn't listen to a lot of Reggae because it isn't "poppy".

Tommy Igoe also has a "Reggae" Lesson in his Drummerworld site.
Reggae is mostly the one drop, but listen to Black Uhuru, and you get more Dub Influences there.
Reggae wasn't popular very long, and along with Reggae emerged a lot of different sub-genres of Reggae. It's a good idea to get to know them all.

[White Riot!]

What looks promising is that new Matishyahu.

With the reggae grooves and the dancehall type vocals , it should attract more people into the world of reggae.

Too bad they are Zionist nuts though...:p

[We_Love_Lime]

Matisyahu is a lyrical Genius.

Hehe Yeah.
I mean, he has the concept straight, just sorta wrong religion.

Matisayahu is no different than any other Past or Present Reggae artist, I don't understand why people like him anymore.

I mean I understand why they do, he's pretty awesome, but He adds nothing new, I don't think.

[White Riot!]

Chapter 2 is triplet feel based one drop

http://cultv.com/artists/rilko/drumlessons/onedropreggae/chapter2.htm

you should check that out too.

[We_Love_Lime]

http://www.officialslyandrobbie.com/

Is an awesome site for some really chill Reggae grooves.

[White Riot!]

Matisyahu is a lyrical Genius.

Hehe Yeah.
I mean, he has the concept straight, just sorta wrong religion.

Matisayahu is no different than any other Past or Present Reggae artist, I don't understand why people like him anymore.

I mean I understand why they do, he's pretty awesome, but He adds nothing new, I don't think.

its the hip hop feel he is giving it. The drummer is pretty smoking player.

The religious ranting kinda put me off

[We_Love_Lime]

Yeah, but theres plenty of other people who give a Hip-Hop Feel to Reggae.

Sly and Robbie
Damian Marley.

But yeah.

Yeah Most Reggae is typically based off of Christianity, and Judaism, but It was weird like to hear someone take a Religous/Rebelious music genre, and than turned it completely Jewish.

There was nothing wrong with it, just added to the whole Stereotype, I belive.
Matisyahu still is awesome.

http://youtube.com/results?search_query=Damian+Marley&search=Search
This is Hip-Hop based.

I like Reggae because sometimes it strayed away from Religion, and than told people to take Initiative.

[White Riot!]

I like Firehouse special.....nice little swing going on there

[We_Love_Lime]

FireHouse special is awesome.

Basically anything Sly and Robbie do with anybody is awesome.
Too bad I can't get specs on Sly's Kit.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=hg2n039txnk

First part shows what Carlton Barrett plays.

[White Riot!]

Yamaha Recording Custom

Some kind of metal snare about 14 x 5

[We_Love_Lime]

Nice, Thanks.
Haha, you got anything on the cymbals there?

I'm assuming NewBeat-ish Hats.

[White Riot!]

Yeah , they look like new beats. He's definantely using Zildjian.



Yamaha's are pretty popular in Jamaica , especially with the reggae crowd.

[We_Love_Lime]

Really?

Like with Keyboards and stuff as well?
Why?


Would No Reso be the same almost as a Diplomat Reso/Ported Diplomat Reso?
Like a 10 inch Port?

[White Riot!]

Im not sure about keyboards , but yamaha drums are popular because they are good drums and more importantly in jamaica , arent too pricey

The single head bass drum kinda sounds unique. Very seventies sounding , very retro

im not sure about the diplo/diplo reso because that would depend on your tuning

A diplo reso tuned up will make it ring big time

[We_Love_Lime]

I think when I get my new kit.
I'ma deck it out in Coated CS Dots, and either a Diplomat Ported Reso, or No Reso on the bass
And Have Diplomat Resos for my toms.

Jamaica and Trinidad would seem like chill places to live.

[White Riot!]

Im getting Fyberskin II for Reso.

not sure what the batter is going to be though , want something warm and fat though

[We_Love_Lime]

my 18 bass drum.

Haha, thanks to you.

Is going to have a coated one ply/coated thinner 1 ply.

[some jive turkey]

Chapter 2 is triplet feel based one drop

http://cultv.com/artists/rilko/drumlessons/onedropreggae/chapter2.htm

you should check that out too.


Hey , thanks a lot for that link. You're now like one of my favorite people on this forum.

A while back I was looking for some more reggae study materials but I don't do tab.....at all.....I despise it.
But now I'll have something new to look at.