Drums · Level 5 · Reggae
Reggae one drop
Don’t just read about the reggae one drop. Play it.
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Nothing on beat 1: the bass drum and snare (cross-stick) ‘drop’ together on beat 3. The heart of roots reggae.
Tap an instrument name to mute it and play that part yourself.
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a steady groove.
- Press play and listen to the whole groove twice before you play.
- Mute every row except the hi-hat (or ride) and play along with the rest. Leave beat 1 empty on purpose and feel the weight on beat 3.
- Add the bass drum, then the snare, one part at a time.
- Set the tempo to 52 BPM and play the full groove four times without stopping.
- Raise the tempo to 74 BPM once it feels easy.
- Record a take and listen for kick and cross-stick sounding as one note on beat 3.
Listen for
Aim for kick and cross-stick sounding as one note on beat 3. A common mistake is adding a kick on beat 1 out of habit.
Why it works
The empty downbeat gives reggae its laid-back, floating feel; the bass guitar fills it instead.
Questions
How do you count the reggae one drop?
It is in 4/4. Count 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a for each bar.
What tempo should I practise the reggae one drop at?
Start around 52 BPM and work up to 74 BPM. Only speed up when you can play it four times in a row without mistakes.
Is this drum lesson right for my level?
It is a level 5 groove. If it feels too hard, go back to “Shuffle groove”.