Krakatoa - Styles - Blues-Funk-Reggae-Soul - I Feel Good
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Go To: Styles-BluesFunkReggaeSoul-FeelGood-Shows:
Go To: Styles-BluesFunkReggaeSoul-FeelGood-BandRehearsals:
Go To: Styles-BluesFunkReggaeSoul-PrivateLessons 
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See also FREE Lessons for general Instruction not specific to a particular Style.
Background
One of our members brought in a cool Reggae CD and we pulled the Groove off it and adapted it to Drums & Percussion. Donna, another member, heard some Funk & Soul in it and turned it into a James Brown tribute ("I Feel Good") since he had just died. I’ve added some “Bluesy” Shuffle to it also. That's why it's become a hybrid Blues-Funk-Reggae-Soul Style. We later adapted it to "The Tide is High" by Blondie - see Styles-BlueReggae-TideIsHigh.
Song's Accompaniment Style-Guidelines - See also Accompaniment Role-Guidelines:
Listen to an audio clip of the "Mother" Drum Groove for practicing:
Song's Drum & Percussion Style-Guidelines - See also Instrument Role-Guidelines:
The weak Down-Beat but strong Pulse on count 3 along with high-pitched 2 & 4 Back-Beats is very characteristic of Reggae. Counting in 1/8-note Triplet Subdivisions and adding the “Skip” Beats (the “a” counts) to fall into the next Beat, gives it a “Bluesy” Feel.
Role 1 "Father" Drum Style-Guidelines:
Based on the Instrument Role-Guidelines, I suggest bringing out the 2-Pulse Feel and Back-Pulses:
|1 e a 2 e a 3 e a 4 e a | Count 1/8-note Triplet Subdivisions
|1 2 3 4 a |
|b r B r r | b = softer bass, B = louder bass, r = rim
|r l r l l | right-handed: r = right, l = left
Role 2 Steady Time-Keepers Style-Guidelines:
Metal – low Cowbell:
|1 e a 2 e a 3 e a 4 e a | Count 1/8-note Triplet Subdivisions
|1 3 a | 2-Pulse Feel + echo
|m o o | m = muted, o = open
|s l s | s = soft, l = loud
Wood:
|1 e a 2 e a 3 e a 4 e a | Count 1/8-note Triplet Subdivisions
| 2 a 4 a | Back-Beats + echoes the Rasp
Shakers – this will help to bring out the Back-Beats:
|1 2 3 4 | Keeping the 1/4-note Beat
|s l s l | s = soft, l = loud
Tambourine:
|1 e a 2 e a 3 e a 4 e a | Count 1/8-note Triplet Subdivisions
| 2 4 a | Back-Beats + Pick-up note
Rasp – Guiro: This will simulate the movements of the Rhythm Guitarist.
|1 e a 2 e a 3 e a 4 e a | Count 1/8-note Triplet Subdivisions
|1 a 2 3 a 4 |
|d d u d d u | d = soft down-stroke, u = loud up-stroke
Role 3 "Mother" Drums Style-Guidelines:
Like a “Bluesy” Shuffle that stops on 4:
|1 e a 2 e a 3 e a 4 e a | Count 1/8-note Triplet Subdivisions
|1 a 2 a 3 4 |
|b o o o B F | b = muted bass, B = open bass, o = open, F = muted flam
|r l r l r lR | right-handed: r = right, l = left
Role 4 "Child" Drum Style-Guidelines:
|1 e a 2 e a 3 e a 4 e a | Count 1/8-note Triplet Subdivisions
|1 e 2 e 3 4 | ¼-note Beat + Counter the Shuffle
Role 5 Advanced Time-Keepers Style-Guidelines:
|1 e a 2 e a 3 e a 4 e a | Count 1/8-note Triplet Subdivisions
| 3 | Vibra-slap or Rattle to emphasis the Reggae Pulse
|1 2 a3 4 a | Triangle playing a Jazz Swing rhythm
Role 6 "Master" and Solo Drum Style-Guidelines:
Place heavier emphasis on count 3 for the Reggae Feel. Play with a Shuffle rhythm (1 a2 a3 a4 a), Swing rhythm (1 2 a3 4 a), or Triplet (1ea2ea3ea4ea) rhythms when creating melodic/rhythmic phrases. Listen to the Chord Progression from the Accompaniment. Build-up to count 3. Accentuate the Back-Beat and rhythms of the Rhythm Guitarist to give it the Reggae Feel. Play “off” the various instruments and singer. Trade Solos.