Reggae Rhythm on Guitar: The Skank, Offbeat Chords and Counting
In reggae the guitar does not fill the sound but gives short clicks of chords on the weak beats while the bass carries the melody. This technique is called the skank. Below is how to play it, how to count and which chords to start with.
What a skank is
A skank is a short chord on a weak beat that is muted at once. In reggae it falls on beats two and four of the bar, while one and three stay empty. The bass and drums take the strong beats, and that emptiness gives reggae its sway.
How to play the skank
Play relaxed and do not hurry: the reggae tempo is slow.
- Form a small triad on the three top strings.
- Strike the strings briefly and at once ease the left-hand pressure so the sound stops.
- Play only on beats two and four and leave one and three empty.
- Do not fill the pauses: the air between strikes is as important as the chords.
Practise with a metronome
Set the metronome to 70 beats per minute and count one, two, three, four. Play the skank only on two and four. If the hand wants to add a strike on one, stop and start again.
The Am and D chords
Often the whole groove rests on two chords. The Am to D change gives a Dorian sound: a minor with a major chord on the fourth degree. Press Play the progression and listen, then play both chords as small triads.
What else matters in reggae
The bass in reggae does not just hold the root but sings a short melody with pauses, so the guitar must play little and precisely. Solos are rare; the melody is more often played in octaves or together with the bass. For more about the genre see the Reggae on Guitar page in the genres section.
Basic technique: how to practise with a metronome and how to read rhythm on guitar.
Try it in practice
Open the metronome