Reggae could use some feedback

[Gps]

Hi guys

Can you guys help me out, I made this all by myself, but that melody some how sounds so familiar. Anybody got an clue what it sounds like ?
Also some other feedback is of course welcome too.
Should I use a different instrument for the melody ?
Or is the melody not right at all?

https://soundcloud.com/user586365033/reggae

[slipstick]

I'd say the main problem with the melody line is that the phrases are too long and too smooth (legato in music speak). The reggae melodies I think of are always more "jerky" (staccato) with plenty of rests and each phrase is rarely more than a couple of bars long. But then I'm no reggae expert.

The other problem is that you can't really get a Jamaican accent from a synth and that accent is a big part of reggae. Is it really an instrumental genre ?

OTOH it definitely sounds reggae-like and I like the backing.

Steve

[Gps]

yeah man

Thank you, and about it being instrumental, you might be right there. all the reggae I found has lyrics.

Funny to me is that you mention a more jerky melody.
While trying to add a melody to it, on my midi controller I had a much more jerky melody, but went for the part you just heard.

Something to think about.

The closest I can come to instrumental and reggae in my memory, is a ska track.
Madness one step beyond.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-uyWAe0NhQ
Maybe I should call my track ska LOL

Edit: Maybe I should get inspited by ska.
Not really instrumental, but this is something better suited for a daw I think.
Madness - night boat to Cairo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDN- ... STHMxBttlU

[Gps]

Looking for inspiration I did found instrumental reggae, but if my memory serves me right that called a dub.

Years ago we had records, and dub versions of songs.

That sounded like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T3tg6Xwt7A

Listening to it I wonder how high they were when they made this
Scientist - Space Invaders 1982 (Full Album)

Edit: No idea were that dub stand for, but if we talk instrumental I might be on the right track with this dub.


Google and wiki to the rescue:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dub_%28music%29

Dub is a genre of electronic music[1] which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre,[2] though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae. Music in this genre consists predominantly of instrumental remixes of existing recordings[3] and is achieved by significantly manipulating and reshaping the recordings, usually by removing the vocals from an existing music piece, and emphasizing the drum and bass parts (this stripped-down track is sometimes referred to as a 'riddim'). Other techniques include dynamically adding extensive echo, reverb, panoramic delay, and occasional dubbing of vocal or instrumental snippets from the original version or other works.

Dub was pioneered by Osbourne "King Tubby" Ruddock, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Errol Thompson and others[2] in the late 1960s. Similar experiments with recordings at the mixing desk outside of the dancehall environment were also done by producers Clive Chin and Herman Chin Loy.[4] These producers, especially Ruddock and Perry, looked upon the mixing console as an instrument, manipulating tracks to come up with something new and different. Dub has influenced many genres of music, including rock (most significantly the subgenre of post-punk and other kinds of punk[5]), pop,[6] hip hop,[5] disco, and later house,[7] techno,[7] ambient,[7] and trip hop.[7] Dub has become a basis for the genres of jungle/drum and bass[8][9] and dubstep.[10] Traditional dub has survived and some of the originators, such as Lee "Scratch" Perry and Mad Professor, continue to produce new material.

[Gps]

Shorter notes for the melody works much better. Whish I could play like john lord.

I almost forgot to add reverb, how can you make reggae without reverb ?

[Eino]

Awhile back I did a Bobby McFerrin song, and used steel drums, and the acoustic bass.
The combination of the two worked well for reggae.

[Gps]

Steel drums is indeed very reggae. It funny to me how important the instruments (sounds) are for reggae.

I have been adding reverb on multiple tracks, that does work well, but funny enough, it worked best for the side kick ( drummer hitting the metal of the drum )

That really brings that reggae touch to it.

Right now I am happy but also in doubt. I like my fine tuned bassline ( guitar like) but if its really a reggae bassline ?
There was a tad of distortion, and I got rid of that.
But I think there are too much notes.
On the other hand, what wrong with a bit originality.

Not to happy with one sound though. Its prob too much synth and not so much reggae.
So do I release or do I continue?

[Gps]

Ditched the synth, and replaced it with a piano. (Akoustic keyz)
I like this sound a lot better.

I am starting to be happy about it. Anybody any thoughts on how to improve further?
Or should I stop now ?
Also added a cowbell ( tr808 cow)

Made the side kick much louder. Changed the hihat to a Yamaha vintage kit sound.

https://soundcloud.com/user586365033/a-bit-of-reggae

What do you guys think ? Should I maybe go look for a good trumpet sound, (for the sound starting at 0.34)

[musikbear]

its really good, Especially the intro; like it.
not sure if the cowbells hits in best tick, and imo they could be omitted, or you could try murder reverb on it :p
Good bounce in it

[Gps]

LOL at murder reverb.

I just listened, and I am gonna think about that cowbell, because I agree. (try to move it, or delete it, and or add murder reverb.)

Then I might add a third variation melody part, and make a better ending.