3 Reggae Drum Beats Every Drummer Should Know | Reggae Drums | Stephen Taylor Drum Lesson

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3 Reggae Drum Beats Every Drummer Should Know | Reggae Drums | Stephen Taylor Drum Lesson
Click here for the sheet music: www.stephensdr...
This reggae drum lesson will focus on the top 3 reggae drum beats that I think every drummer should know.
These reggae drum beats will help you begin to play the style. The 3 that we focus on are the One Drop, Rockers, and Steppers.
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Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts!
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Cymbal Setup From Left To Right:
All Zildjian
Hats:
16" EFX Crash on top
16" K Light Top Hat on bottom
18" Kerope Crash
22" K Custom Dark Complex Ride
22" Renaissance Ride
Drums:
Tama Starclassic Bubinga with Tiger Wood finish
Sticks:
Vic Firth 5A
Drumheads:
Aquarian
Classic Clear on toms and snare resonant
Response 2 on toms batter
Hi-Velocity on snare batter
Regularor (Ebony) on kick resonant
Super Kick 10 on kick batter
Alclair In Ear Monitors #StephenTaylor #BestDrumLessons

[@YomekRadic]

Stephen Taylor I am a Jamaican born with reggae in my DNA and it's so interesting how you as a non-Jamaican appreciate 'real reggae' for the most I also appreciate the fact that you credited some of the right persons and encourage viewers to go and listen and learn the music. You have done a great job for the basic start. Blessed love keep doing what you are doing "One love" Jam Rock approved👍

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Kemoy Rowe Thank you my friend. Means a lot coming from a native Jamaican. It’s ALWAYS better to go to the source...listen listen listen. Thanks so much for the kind words!

[@jambutty2218]

Nice to read, it's authenticated by a true Jamaican. One love from a reggae fanatic in the UK 💚💛❤️🇬🇧🇯🇲

[@bedlfit2198]

There are millions of non-Jamaican people that appreciate deep roots reggae. The history, the evolution and the variations are all appreciated by millions of open minded people. It’s hard to no feel a reggae groove no matter where you’re from or who you are. Music reaches everyone equally and that is the beauty. Non-Jamaican people can create and channel reggae just as a Jamaican can. We are all the same in the heart of music.

[@seromaisrael641]

Please @Steven Taylor please write the names of those guys you recommend. I can't get the names how you say them.

[@mattszalay8819]

? The majority of Bob Marleys fans were white

[@Theislandjourney]

Well I am a Jamaican drummer and its the norm for every drummer in my country to know how to play reggae grooves. I should say wow Stephen you said everything that is to know about reggae grooves well done ! Yuh ting up!!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Lol...I would hope they do know how to play reggae grooves in your country! It's always interesting to me how musicians from different parts of the world feel rhythms differently. And thank you...glad I hit the nail on the head!

[@eddyvideostar]

To Kemar: Good comment. Well done.

[@norubi]

Please what rhythm is in this track? kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaXdqod7hZpmgbM

[@MrVoraxTranstellaris]

@@norubi Sounds like an example of version 2 of the rockers groove Stephen played, though it's a bit difficult to hear exactly what's going on.

[@ayugaming3047]

@@norubi Reggae roots

[@jedidrummerjake]

I was the drummer of The Skeletones for 13 years and glad you did a video about this style. You're speaking my language!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Bro...loved your band...killer work. And thanks!

[@jedidrummerjake]

Stephen Taylor Cool! Now I give lessons and can't thank you enough for all your fantastic instructional videos!

[@peterngero1456]

Kenya raggae drumer I liked your lesson

[@patrickwilhite9442]

Thank you so much. I am 69 years old and trying to get back into drumming for my own enjoyment.

[@pirat9750]

patrick wilhite nice

[@felipemejia9731]

far out man

[@kamranm4078]

@@roxannepeypascissurs9929 so you must be 12 years old

[@Ticonderous1]

Love the one drop .... My Bass player once said "hey let's do 3 little birds" ... i spent all weekend learning it , So come Monday night practice .... He changed his mind :-(

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Ticonderous1 Lol...that’s such a great song.

[@mcsequoia5107]

"The notes don't mean a thing, if you don't know why they're being played. Go listen to the style and absorb it". - Stephen Taylor I hear so many gigging/cover band drummers play the right notes but miss the feel of the type of music being played. It's not easy to be able to combine the necessary technical facility w. style but I'm super glad that Stephen refers to drummers, songs and bands to study. I hope this really important message gets through to everyone so we all can play, listen and dance to better quality music!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks Mike...gotta go to the source to know what it really sounds like

[@mcsequoia5107]

Dude, every day you're making better drummers who can play better music! Hats off to ya'!

[@barringtonjohnson6569]

I’m not a drummer... but I’ve been playing reggae Bass a loong time, and I must say your analysis and groove is spot on.

[@bassiehd]

I love how you show reggae music the respect it deserves. Too many bogus "reggae drum lessons" on youtube. Well done.

[@drumcorcaigh5770]

Was actually practicing reggae five minutes before I saw this video. This is the third time this has happened. I don't know whether to be scared or happy :p

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

No reason to be scared. Btw, you're running low on soap in your bathroom...and you're almost out of coffee..... But don't be freaked out...

[@mateodelcastillo1756]

DrumCorcaigh happy. Jah is calling you

[@mikescully7523]

It’s all just a simulation

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

*Subscribe to my channel or I'll steal your cymbals:* bit.ly/2AyH1Fb Click here to download the sheet music for this lesson: bit.ly/3GFpQTu Leave me a comment below and let me know you stopped by!

[@Theislandjourney]

Sure man your a great teacher

[@Theislandjourney]

Oh you inspired me with the lesson on how do a drum solo amazing....

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks Kemar!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Makes my day to hear it...glad that one hit home with you

[@garymorgan3742]

Stephen Taylor Thanks so much for this lesson. I've listened to other instructors try to explain reggae beats but, for some reason, nothing clicked with me until you explained it.

[@mikepostdrums]

1:01 when you said "the notes don't mean a thing..", I expected "if it ain't got that swing" to follow haha

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Ha!

[@JamesOKeefe-US]

I did too :) I said it in my head :). LOVE this lesson and the rhythm of Reggae. Thank you for this!! 👍

[@MikeHawk-tj3dz]

Bop shooah bop shooah

[@micheldindaine8403]

NOTES don't mean a thing if it ain't got that GROOVE !! (swing is mostly a jazz thing).

[@jacksonsendrowitz9720]

respect for saying to listen to it first, people dont get how much of a difference it really makes

[@JonathanRodriguez-lh5mb]

Not a drummer but a guitarist who plays punk and reggae. Thank you for educating me on what the drum grooves are called, now I can communicate with a drummer better!

[@chrispaws9294]

great lesson and playing, i just can't get used to counting it half time having done it the other way for 30 years ha ha. I dunno, i just find it easier that way, especially when trying to teach the groove to others. your tips for listening are also bang on. Sponji reggae is a drum and bass masterclass for sure. For drummers not quite as skilled, i'd recommend style scott with the roots radics (gregory isaacs/barrington levy/yellowman/eek a mouse/israel vibration etc) Simpler but great weight power and groove. As a longtime reggae lover it's great to see that half a million people have watched this. thanks

[@lagkeys6428]

I’ve been watching drum teachers on youtube do quick lesson on 2 or 3 variations of latin, samba, and reggae grooves, and in the last 2 months my playing has improved dramatically! No fills or nothing, they come naturally. THX!!!!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

So glad to hear that!

[@kaminandamusic253]

You forgot the part where you recommend smoking the herb when you listen and play.

[@kaminandamusic253]

Great video btw

[@crossmyass]

Jah bless!

[@stokes58]

Nothing better. A match made in heaven.

[@bimodalhealer8286]

Left hand suzuki method hahaha

[@nexdrums]

Ahahahahaha xD avoiding to do what Elop Musk did ...

[@johnjohnothan5927]

Love how you emphasize studying artists and suggest pieces which reflect the material you're teaching.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

john johnothan Thanks John. Anyone can teach the notes to play...but the feel. That’s something altogether different and we only get it by really digging in to the style and players. This style especially.

[@DavidClawsonMusic]

It seems to me Stewart Copeland grab a hold of this stuff and ran crazy with it. Walking On The Moon is one of my favorites! Also, I've got a gig on Mackinac Island, MI coming up in July where we are taking 5 pop songs and doing them reggae mon. This so helpful. Keep up the great work my friend. Thanx for grooves Stephen!!

[@Spladoinkal]

For sure! I saw an interview with Stewart and he said he wasn't necessarily TRYING to sound like a reggae drummer but he thought a normal backbeat was boring so he was trying his best to make his backbeat on different beats than the standard. It just ended off coming out that way (I'm sure there was plenty of Reggae inspiration in there too but he didn't mention it lol).

[@2latuile]

About the counting: technically you _can_ indeed count it both ways (fast or slow), but really for reggae the right one is the slow one - on a one drop you get the hi-hat playing sixteen notes with accents on beats 2 and 4 (the skank) and the kick "dropping" on beat 3. This is the quintessential reggae riddim where emphasis is on beat 3 and beat 1 is the "lesser" beat. Counting it fast (hi hat accents on upbeats and kick on 2 and 4) is actually a rock-steady / ska rythm, closer to r&b only with the "skank" thing being played on upbeats instead of downbeats. This can be seen as a subtle (or just downright pedantic ) nuance but it really makes a difference in the way you "feel" this groove and play it - or at least it did make a difference for me (long time guitar and bass player and now learning drums) when I first learned to play reggae some 35 years ago. FWIW the rythm you call stepper is also known (and I first learned it as) as "four drop" because you "drop" the kick on all 4 beats - IOW it's really a "four on the floor" with still the skank on beat 2 and 4 and the snare (or rim click) adding emphasis on beat 3.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

2latuile You know what, I almost said something about steppers being called four on the floor or a four drop and it simply slipped my mind. Thanks for throwing that in the conversation!

[@ezj9103]

I dont know why people disliked this video. Great job. I got choir practice and i need a good reggea beat to use as a flow. I appreciate it.

[@thebudhunterconnoisseurdes5034]

Difference between raggae and Rock is Rock and almost all music snare is on 2 & 4. Raggae snare is almost always on three. You did a good explanation counting it both ways. the way you explained it works well, double it or half it and snare come on 333333three!!!! Practice a solo where the accent is on 3! Good job.. Jamaica drummers are Fun!

[@normanbuchanan9710]

dude you nailed it I'm Jamaican (not a drummer) but I play the guitar and the drum to me is really the base that I follow to a good rhythm going, yeah you're an honorary Jamaican drummer in my book, thumbs up, keep it ticking 👍

[@odinnhrafnsson6267]

I'm not even a drummer but I like what I got from this video and you've earned another subscriber.

[@BHAKTIBROPHY]

'Obsessed with Two Tone since the early 1980s. Your example was sick!! 👊😎 Rudy!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks!

[@kentfultz4842]

Great teaching, to the point and no long stories, lol. Thank you

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks, so glad it helped!

[@n0iseboy]

Don't forget to tighten that snare head as much as is possible... It should sound fairly terrible by itself, but it'll fall right into the mix... Ha...ha...

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

You know what Angelo, I meant to say a little something about the drum sounds as well and forgot. Crazy high snare, really dead kick, small crashes...thanks for bringing that up!

[@XyanGuitar]

I'm A rhythm guitarist from Jamaica. what you said at 0:54 made me subscribed. you know exactly what you're talking about. nuff respect breddrin

[@itocivic]

Well done buddy.! I grew up playing Bass guitar with Reggae music and for me is a very nice video for all the ones that want to start play that wonderful music... Again....Well done......!

[@oyedunruth5585]

Reggae is very beautiful because for learning drummers like me will need to know this

[@drummerwarrior1]

Loved this lesson. I've played reggae and ska off and on for years and your feel is spot on. And its all about the feel.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Adi Wood Thanks...feel is where it’s at in all styles. There’s such a slight difference in this rhythm stylistically. So important to listen.

[@unomanso]

Excellent Wisdom and Knowledge to us Reggae Drummers Even before you hit your first note. I thoroughly enjoyed this!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

unomanso Thanks!

[@harrisonmyers1572]

Sly & Robbie were on countless reggae recordings! They were *the* reggae rhythm section, just like Philly Joe and Paul Chambers were for the late ‘50s hard bop scene.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Exactly. You can't study the style without those two. Incredible contributions to music.

[@lqr824]

I listened to a LOT of Sly and Robbie. Without dissing them, they're just two stars in a huge constellation of talent out there. I think more than musical talent the key to their career was the probably more-important skills of networking and productivity. They knew and played and recorded with everybody, which I salute, but not because they were "the" best.

[@digiaotearoa5897]

You the man bro im a non Jamacian my ethnic peoples adoppted Reggaea nd we really took it on here in Aotearoa ya gotta luv Reggae Muzik

[@iranyavictor-kh1du]

I feel you God blessed raggae

[@gabriellawing6941]

I appreciate this lesson as our church is starting to play reggae music and I need something to get me started.

[@philstixemmymusic]

Sir you have made me to understand in details how regea beat works thank you God bless you

[@jmb92555]

I don't always 'like' your uploads. Sometimes I forget... but I always remember the second or third time I watch ;)

[@opetersonmusic]

Dropping beats and knowledge excellent video!

[@jiggyjones7229]

"The notes don't mean a thing, if you don't know why you play" brilliant

[@icantseeitall]

I appreciate you making lesson videos regarding reggae.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

icant seeitall My pleasure my friend

[@devanhansonmusic]

The emphasis is on the down beat of three I’m pretty sure ✌️❤️💛💚 anybody else?

[@heftyalan1152]

Carlton Barrett, excellent. Mr one drop. Gone too soon. I saw Aston Barrett Jnr on the drums with The Wailers not so long ago with his father on bass, good night. I saw punk band Dillinger Escape Plan back when they were more hardcore and their drummer at the time Gil Sharone would throw in some reggae rhythms and fills in amongst the hardcore, seriously amazing player, very underrated. Nicely done and I like the counting showing the emphasis on the 3. Took me a while to get my head around this as 1 and 3 as a rock and punk drummer is second nature but 3 is the key :). Glad to hear Op Ivy get a name check "all I know is that I don't know nothing."

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Hefty Alan Barrett is the man...did an 8 lesson series on him on my website for the members. So much to learn. And Gil is a beast who’s really representing the development of this style. Op Ivy...Man, so much to love.

[@ArkaEasyRiders]

Gil has a reggae lesson video, titled Wicked Beatz. Not underrated AT ALL; he tours with Manson. HUGE player!

[@PerceptionsofFate]

Obasi Springer is my favorite Raggae drummer, and def. in my top ten

[@macfinster3]

I really enjoy the fills in Pressure Drop (Toots). I think the drummer was Winston Grennan

[@PhireXZ]

Thanks Stephen, when I'm learning something new your videos always come up !!

[@hoodiedee4828]

i'm a schooled drummer from back in the (Inner Mounting Flame) days. thanks for the great lesson on Reggae. nice and simple for almost any drummer to understand. thanks again

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

That's such a great album. And glad the lesson delivered what you needed!

[@Spacefall87]

Drummer from Black Roots is a great example of a mix of that three styles

[@MikeMastropierro]

Great lesson. Deep insights, well researched and well spoken. Positive outlook. Bravo! One of my favorite things to listen for is the “swung” timing of the upbeat 16th notes in the hihat. It is always far from a “perfect” rigid timing.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Mike Mastropierro Thanks so much Mike. And Man, you bring up a great point. As I study different cultures and world rhythms, it’s always interesting to me how that “swing” differs. And sometimes it’s not a swing. It’s just a particular treatment of the notes. Humans are just really amazing creatures.

[@folayanmary7052]

Mike Mastropierro best drummer

[@elizabethmurray7386]

Fantastic lesson. Helped my classroom teaching!

[@JamaicanMeCrazy]

As a Jamaican. I approve this video 👍 legit

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thank you my friend

[@JamaicanMeCrazy]

@@StephenTaylorDrums yes it seems so simple but reggae is more about feel than technique, having said that, if you don't have the technique you can't play it either. You've got to listen to the vibe man. Your timing and execution and rolls are spot on.

[@audreydugan9668]

Excellent ! Thanks

[@reubenitemedia]

Stephen, thank you for posting! I was on Drumeo's channel when I saw your vid on reggae drum lessons. I appreciate your ability to articulate sticking and notes for not just the different style of reggae music you covered, but in all your other tutorials I've watched. The 16th-notes on high hat was the breakthrough I've been looking for on my self taught journey. BiGG respect for skills and time you share - it's a tru tru blessing mon. Big Up!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

So glad it helped my friend

[@sharingstoke]

Thanks so much for this! About to learn it with my 4 year old son! Thank you!

[@nexdrums]

Thanks Steph!

[@marttram2183]

Best online drumming instructor

[@moviecool4274]

Thanks for the lesson man! :)

[@playpm]

Gee, I don't know why this video got so many dislikes, your explanation is the best one I've seen within all the searching results!!!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thank you!

[@dougantelman2369]

That last groove reminded me of The Police “message in a bottle”

[@chavezedrums]

Man!!!!! Ty soooooo much!! I’ve really delve into Regae over the last few years and this answers some areas that still confuse me!! Thank you!!

[@stevemalu6780]

I'm amazed at the knowledge! Good Job and thank you!

[@benjaminhernandez4433]

That was a great lesson!!! Thanks for sharing!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

benjamin hernandez Thanks Benjamin...and you bet!

[@Arkdrums007]

thank you for the support Stephen..🙂🤘

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

You bet Ankur!

[@Arkdrums007]

Stephen Taylor you are motivation sir..🙌👍

[@jerrymammoser9857]

Man, I don’t know where you get the energy to know all the footnotes but it’s well appreciared,. These are cool grooves, easy, but for me, a challenge. Thanks! 😎

[@crisp5925]

Thanks so much for the awesome lesson man! Appreciate it!

[@josemariajr7226]

Thanks a LOT for sharing this beautiful knowledge. Specially when it comes to counting the beat. Amazing lesson.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

José Maria Jr you bet Jose!

[@1man2manynotes]

I’m just getting into drumming and I thought I knew reggae. You suggested three songs I’ve never even heard lol. I love your channel and please continue suggesting the music homework(especially reggae).

[@Jidoworld]

reggae is legeno

[@teresajoseph2]

Hey. I'm learning, I've learnt that style,I'm grateful😂😁😀😀. Well not everything, but I've picked something . thanks.

[@ROBBANKS666666]

Awesome thanks🤗

[@benfrank8649]

What styles don’t you listen to and fully absorb? You have competence and understanding on tons of styles. I’m trying to be like that. I’ve been listening to music and playing my whole life. I still feel like I’m barely scratching the surface on many things.... so much music

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Ben Frank Thanks Ben. Honestly, I just choose certain styles to immerse myself in for a time. Big band, jazz, mambo, soca, reggae, funk, Motown...so many times in my life I just limited EVERYTHING I listened to to one specific style. Doing this a couple of times a year over my career has yielded pretty solid returns. We get freaked out and try to do it all at once. Make a list and then work through that list. It will take years but unless you plan on dying soon, Time is something you’ve got plenty of.

[@benfrank8649]

That’s a great idea. I’m very ADHD and curious about everything I want to learn. Right now I’m learning a Green Day, Porcupine Tree and Buddy’s Rich songs. Which are all great, but I’m not sure what I’m accomplishing style wise because they are so over the board. Perhaps I should stick to one style for a little bit. But I want to be good at everything. We all do right?

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Ben Frank pick one and only listen to that style for 3 months. Pick 4 or 5 albums specifically that you revisit daily. That’s how it happens. Do that 3 or 4 times a year and it adds up.

[@Judesmood118]

Great job getting that duple/triple push pull feel on the one drop!

[@HungryManDJ]

Great lesson

[@CTBlaze]

my fav stepper beat song is Bela Lugosi's Dead by Bauhaus ✌️

[@butupai6886]

Thank you so much...! What a connoisseur.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Bu Tu Pai You bet

[@nigelmatupire2245]

This is amazing, I grew up listening to reggae and you are really good, at drumming and teaching too!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thank you!

[@ChrisBluesman]

Thank you very much for the lesson; you’re an awesome drummer and teacher

[@d0nhds]

That's what I'm looking for. It is very difficult to find content of this quality in Brazilian Portuguese. Great job, I really enjoyed it.

[@adoboFosho]

Cool

[@favourerrick8536]

Thanks

[@bishop_mech]

You've done well explaining this in a Jamaican guitarist

[@musikscool]

Great video- for anyone wanting to get into Reggae drumming- great references and pointers. Thanks for posting!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks so much!

[@southernstingray2743]

Raid I Blues Dance by Steel Pulse!Choice to jam along with bro !!Cheers for the cool vid!

[@jake7945]

So basicly most important thing is to accent up beats on your hats. Then from there the placement of your kick drum really determines which type of groove it is? Just trying to "dumb" this down for myself. Great video

[@dos_mas_805]

Bombaclaaaaaaaaaattt!!! Just kidding and thanks for the video Stephen, nuff respect for pushing the roots vibe! Your assessment of being aware of the upbeat and your hat work at 3:25 are on point.

[@fkat1666]

English Beat Mirror in the Bathroom is a great song that has that last style.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Yes! I break down that groove in the course I wrote years back Punk Rock Drumming 101...somewhat of a history of punk drumming. Such a great band and aong

[@binkawy]

That was very informative and great. This video can change someone in reggae from zero to hero

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

binkawy Thanks...glad it helped!

[@dawiskid187]

Beautiful work man I learned a lot from this video I’m working my reggae groves..

[@thekidgt929]

Great vid first one is like walking on the moon Police 😎

[@superfan2895]

Thank you

[@dmdb_1]

Legend

[@cosmo5179]

Thanks man! Im a drum programmer but i will get a drumkit one day, never too old to learn haha

[@TheVDikan]

The first example of third groove reminded me a lot of songs of The Police

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Absolutely

[@NicoleKrawczyk]

Ok, so this is what i gotta learn before I can get into playing Police songs!

[@Tryall200]

You are excellent. Approve from a true reggae beat lover.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thank you my friend

[@thusharaaluthge6129]

Thank you ...🙏

[@chrisfournier6144]

I asked my drum teacher to help me get into reggae drumming a couple months ago. It just has such a distinctive groove and feel good movement. I’ve worked on steppers with the poly rhythm of triplets over quarters and am now grinding out the one drops. So fun! Maybe after a year of working on reggae I’ll take a crack at dancing? Great video, thank you Stephen!

[@chrisfournier6144]

And I have downloaded Red Green and Gold to my library. Thanks for the reggae rabbit hole Stephen!

[@DubProof]

Thanks for making this video! Not many reggae drummers in my area. I’ll be using this for our fill in guys! Thanks again one love.

[@younyikedia4361]

thanks so much!! i will greatly be taking this lesson today!!

[@ccostavictor1]

thank you

[@kingkapisi1080]

Please also explore Lucky Dube. The drums are insane.

[@paolocarnevali106]

Great man, really a nice lesson, straight to the point. Thanks