In this lesson, you’ll learn how to play Reggae music in the Bob Marley classic “Could You Be Loved”.
Reggae is a popular Jamaican music with elements of calypso and rhythm and blues, characterized by a strongly accentuated offbeat. The offbeat is the 2nd and 4th beats of a measure. Most songs in other genres emphasize the 1st and 3rd beats. This accent on the offbeat is what gives Reggae its unique sound.
Hear This Lesson:
Guitar 1
In Reggae the offbeat is usually accentuated with a rhythm guitar, as in the case of “Could You Be Loved”. There is a single guitar playing the chords on the off beats.
Video
In the video, you can see me making a downward motion with my picking hand on the downbeat, but I don’t come in contact with the strings until the upbeat when my arm makes an upward motion. It’s in this motion that I play the chord. Maybe putting it in the perspective of the physical arm motion will help you understand the “downbeat” and “upbeat”.
Guitar 2
The second guitar part is very particular about the rhythm and is by far the hardest part to play. In the first two measures use a slight palm mute. To do this you’ll rest the heel of your picking hand lightly on the strings just before the bridge and apply a little pressure as you pick the string. This will create a slightly muffled tone for the notes. It’s mostly quick 16th notes. Try a down up down up picking pattern.
Guitar 3
Last of all is a fairly easy lead part to play.
