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Matty

Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 03:53 am:

Hey. I've spent about three years learning electronic drumkits. I finnaly was able to afford a nice pearl export as my first acoustic kit.

Now I can play rock pretty good, but I just don't know how to get that perfect reggae 'sound', as in what drums I should be getting, etc. So here are some questions I have.

What size snare is good for Reggae? And how in HELL do you slam that one drop stick perfectly?

What size toms/timbales should I be using?

How do I get that super-tight reggae bass drum sound? I have a 22" bass drum.

Does anyone know the kits people like Carlton Barret used, as in all the individual pieces?

If anyone can help, I'd appreciate it so much.

Looter

Posted on Saturday, May 22, 2004 - 08:55 pm:

Whats up? No reggae drummers out there to shed some light on this for us? I'd also like to know the best way to explain/teach one drop to a drummer.

Mike Zee

Posted on Saturday, May 22, 2004 - 10:16 pm:

Hey, guys... well, it's kinda hard to find a real reggae drummer with some good experience who would blah blah on b-board ;-)
If nobody here has got anything to say in regard to this topic, you guys may try to contact Solomon , his site: http://www.solomonjabby.com.... as I recall he plays/records drums, playing real retro'reggae style

/respects,
/Mike Zee aka Dr ZEE
ZDL

Solomon Jabby

Posted on Thursday, June 24, 2004 - 09:03 pm:

Greetings,

I was alerted to a reggae drum topic (I guess I'm a few months late but oh well).

There's really no specific formula for getting a good reggae drum sound although there are some basics. Learn how to play the rhythms by listening to as much reggae as possible. If you are just learning drums, I would probably get a reggae book and learn some basic patterns as a guide. However, in order to get a really good feel for the music, you're just going to have to listen to it over and over and play along with the music. There is A LOT of syncopation in reggae rhythms, almost as much as jazz. That is what makes it so much harder than say rock beats. With jazz and reggae, you are learning more of a system rather than just a beat. It's basically an improvised shuffle.

22" bass drum is a perfect size for reggae, add a wood beater and its even better.

Carlton Barrett, I think, used a chrome snare, muted with pretty tight heads, and with the snares very tight as well. His toms were dry (definitely not double layered pinstripe type heads), and pretty well dampened. If I'm not mistaken he played Ludwig drums. However, the type of drums you play matter very little, its mostly how the heads are tuned.

Anyway, hope this helps.

Solomon Jabby

sir_chin

Posted on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 12:51 am:

peace&bless,
king solomon's right! it's mostly working on the feeling by listening and playing along.
you would develop a sound within yourself first and then try to get it out of the drums.
mr. barret used a metal snare very tight and dry (muted) single heads on toms and bass drum everyting tight and dry. he sometimes mutes the hi-hat by putting a towel beetwen the two cymbals. he generally played ludwig, later yamahas, but the brand of drums is not that important. check a bob marley dvd for his set, but much more to get an idea of his flow and approach on the set.
concentrate on the space beetwen the hits, work on your posture and breathing, try to make the movements as smooth and even as possible.
focus on how the rim shot sound and you will get there, with your stick on the rim at the right time, in the right spot.
it takes love and dedication but it's a journey that's worth it!
guidance&light

Johny Bravojwj

Posted on Saturday, July 08, 2006 - 12:13 am:

Ein Schloss, Ein Wurst, Ein Kopf !jwj

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