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Guitar Lessons - Ska Music, Reggae Music

Playing Ska music or Reggae music on the guitar requires a few different strumming techniques to come together. If you haven't learned how to play mute strums yet, click here!

SKA (skä) n. a form of dance music, popular in Jamaica in the 1960s, characterized by the use of saxophones and brass, a heavily accented offbeat, and the influence of New Orleans Rhythm and blues, jazz, and calypso.

Brief history of Ska Music
(courtesy of http://www.dafunkyphish.com/HistoryOfSka/):
Nineteen Ninety Three saw the historic Skavoovee tour, the first major national American tour package of Ska music. This tour had the full spectrum of what Ska is - the original Jamaican brand of Ska by it's very inventors the Skatalites, British counterparts who revived it and reinvented in the late 70s with the Selecter and Special Beat, and American upstarts the Toasters who raised the Ska flag for the third time starting in the early eighties. In January of 1994, American music-industry trade magazine Billboard had Ska on the cover page as the next big thing.

Let's start with some chord forms that are common in Ska and Reggae music. The chord progressions in this music are usually very simple - 1, 4, and 5.

The Chords:

Now try these strum exercises which are found in Ska music.
Things to remember:

1. Mute the 5th and 6th strings with your 2nd finger hyperextend the 1st finger so that part of it mutes out the 1st string.
2. Use all Up Strums
3. RESTS: Release the pressure on the chord, but keep the finger lightly touching the strings. Make the chords sound nice and short!

Here's a common Ska strum progression you can try:

Here's a different Ska strum which utilizes mute strumming.
You hear this type of strum in Ska-rock music.

• Get the chords sounding clear before you try the strums!

• Practice each strum slowly at first (keep a steady beat) - REMEMBER - you can't make music when your chords buzz!!

• Try creating some of your own strums using any of the chords.