FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: How To Play Reggae Guitar

Question:
is there a specific method that most ska/reggae guitarists use to play? I have been playing at regular strumming speed and then un-muting it on the upstroke, but in some music I have heard there is no sound of the pick hitting the strings when muted and if there is, it is faster (even though it is the same speed as I am playing).any suggestions would help.

Answer:
Basically, the rhythm guitar just hits on the off beat, with very short chords. No harm in playing the muted chord lightly on the in-between beats - it will probably help you to keep time. Your strumming hand should move down on every beat and just play the chord on 2 and 4. (The drums will be playing half time, with the accent on 3.) If you hear faster muted notes on some recordings, it's probably 8th notes in between the beats, played on the upstrokes. The main thing is that the off-beat is struck very positively and kept as hard and short as possible - I do it by lifting my (left hand) fingers off the strings, but keeping my right palm near on the bridge for damping the rest of the time (the played chord is not damped). Generally, limit the chord to the top three or four strings.