ABOUT CHAPTER 11

MAIN TEXT

Now that we will create our first riddim, we won't make it too complex.

It's the best, to imagine that your Midi Sequence is in fact a recording of a studio band. This means, you have to discern different sections just as you would do with a real band.

Let's take a look at the several main sections of a Reggae band.

DRUMS

When a basic track is called "Riddim" or Rhythm, it's obvious that the drums take a dominant position. More often then not, several percussion instruments accompany the drums.

BASS

A Reggae track is identified  by it's bassline. When in most other forms of music, the bassline only functions as a foundation, in Reggae it's the decisive factor. For those -like us- who want to make DUB, it's even more important as we shall see later.

RIDDIM SECTION

This can get a little bit confusing: for a basic track is called a riddim, But in the band there is also a riddim section. This section makes that sound which many feel is so characteristic for Reggae Music: I call it "the skanks". A Riddim section has a guitar, a piano and an organ (or any other combination in that idea).

THEMES

Usually, a riddim is recognized by it's bassline. But there is also another section of the band that places it's mark on a riddim and that is the "theme section". In the 1970's, the horns took a predominant place in Reggae Music. Partly, they could be seen as a factor in the Riddim Section. But horns can also play themes: short harmonic melodies. Themes can also be played by keyboards or other instruments.

ACCOMPANYING ELEMENTS

A guitar that plays a muted version of the bassline, a clavinet which emphasizes certain parts of the bassline, these elements can be heard on many Roots Reggae recordings. In some way, you could see it as the "percussion" for the bassline. 

Now, in our example we will make use of all these sections in order to make a basic track with midi. We will have a chapter on each section. But before we can do that, we have to set up our sequencer for it.