Y9 Reggae

Reggae Listening 1: One Love - Bob Marley (1977)

• Listen to Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’ as you complete the table below using terms from the word bank.

• As you listen, try to recognise these features in the music. Later, you will use these words to describe how the elements of music are used in this song.

• Then listen to an extract from ‘One Love’ (0’00’’-1’40’’). 

• Complete the sentences below using vocabulary from the word bank to describe how the musicians use the elements of music. Where you see an asterisk * one or more words are missing.

More Reggae Resources

Key Features of Reggae

• Moderately slow (andante) tempo with a laid back feel.

• Syncopated rhythms emphasising the: 

• 'Back beat' (beats 2 and 4) with kick drum, snare and bass, and 

• Off-beat or 'half beat' (with off beat chords played on the electric guitar and/or organ).

• Simple, repeated chords, often based on the primary chords: I, IV and V.

• Simple, diatonic or pentatonic, mainly conjunct, vocal melodies, typically with repeated pitches, within a limited pitch range e.g. an octave.

• Lyrics calling for social justice and equality, comparing the oppression of Afro-Americans, especially in Jamaica, to the story of Egypt's enslavement of the Isrealites told in the Old Testament of the Bible.

• Typical use of instruments includes:

• Lead and backing vocals, singing parallel harmonies and in call and response / antiphony.

• Electric guitar, playing detached/muted off-beat chords.

• Drum kit playing swung (semiquaver) hi hat and syncopated kick and snare patterns emphasising beats 2 and 4, often joined by tambourine, shakers.

• Bass guitar playing independent, melodic, syncopated bass lines, which may be described as a walking bass.