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Mastering Reggae Music: Expert Tips and Advice From 4 Established Artists

By Magesh MageshContributing Author

When people hear the word reggae, the first thing that comes to mind is Bob Marley.

I spoke to four reggae artists from Malaysia, New York, and Australia to learn the subtleties of this deceptively difficult style of music.

Cha Rahgung

Cha Rahgung is a Bali-born music producer and songwriter celebrated for his genre-blending sound—a modern fusion of jazzy grooves and reggae rocksteady.

His videos have been viewed on YouTube over 5 million times.

Magesh Magesh, Musicngear: When most people think of reggae music, they instantly think of Bob Marley. What other artists do you think were instrumental in creating reggae's sound?

Yeah, Bob Marley is the first name that comes to mind for most people, and for good reason—he’s a legend. But reggae’s roots are so much deeper. Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, who were part of The Wailers, were just as important in shaping that sound.

Toots and the Maytals were another huge influence; their energy and soul really made reggae stand out globally.

Then there’s Jimmy Cliff—his music, especially from The Harder They Come, was massive in spreading reggae worldwide.

And you can’t forget Lee “Scratch” Perry. The guy was a genius in the studio, shaping how reggae evolved with dub and experimental sounds.

Reggae music relies heavily on playing on the offbeat. How did you get comfortable playing such a syncopated style?

It’s all about feeling it first. I started by listening to a ton of reggae and just tapping along to get used to the “and” beats—like 1-and-2-and-3-and-4.

Once that felt natural, I practiced strumming with a loose wrist, like I was almost “skanking” along with the rhythm.

Playing with tracks like One Love or 54-46 That’s My Number helped me lock in the groove.

After a while, it just becomes second nature, like your hand knows where to land without you even thinking about it.

It's all about feeling it first

What techniques did you practice on the guitar to help create the authentic reggae feel?

Muting is the secret sauce. I practiced a lot of palm muting to get that crisp, percussive “chop” sound—where the chords are short and tight.

Barre chords are a must for this because they give you full control over the muting and dynamics.

I also like to throw in little hammer-ons or slides within the chords to add some flavor.

The trick is to keep it simple but groovy, so it feels alive, not mechanical.

Do you feel you need to interact with other musicians to learn this style of music, or can you learn it from YouTube?

YouTube is an amazing resource—I’ve learned a ton there, and I try to give back by sharing what I’ve picked up.

But honestly, jamming with other musicians is a game-changer. Reggae is such a collaborative style; it’s all about the rhythm section locking in together.

When you play with others, you really feel how your part fits into the groove.

That said, if you don’t have people to jam with, YouTube and some good practice can definitely get you started.

Can you give me your top 5 reggae albums?

Man, that’s a tough one, but here are my essentials:

1. Bob Marley – Exodus: It’s a classic for a reason.
2. Toots and the Maytals – Funky Kingston: Pure vibes.
3. Burning Spear – Marcus Garvey: Deep and powerful.
4. Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come: The soundtrack that introduced reggae to the world.
5. Steel Pulse – True Democracy: A bit of a different flavor, but so good.

These albums are like a crash course in reggae, from the roots to its evolution.

What projects are you currently working on?

Right now, I’m working on all original tracks that blend reggae with chill-out and soul vibes. It’s exciting because I’m exploring my own sound while staying true to reggae’s roots.

My goal is to create my own catalog. This is a personal legacy where, one day, I am no longer here, my generation can enjoy and see the pieces I work with. Maybe they can be proud of their great-great-grandfather. :)  

I’m also managing my YouTube channel, sharing tips on playing reggae guitar, and showing a behind-the-scenes look at how I create music. It’s a mix of teaching, creating, and just sharing my journey with people who vibe with this music.

Connect with Cha Rahgung
Instagram / Facebook / TikTok / YouTube / Website

Gino Nayna

Gino Nayna is an in-demand multi-talented musician from Melbourne Australia. He has just released his new single 'On a Mission' on JH records.

When most people think of reggae music, they instantly think of Bob Marley. What other artists do you think were instrumental in creating reggae's sound?

In my opinion, just to name a few artists I believe were instrumental in creating the reggae sound apart from Bob and the Wailers would be Toots and the Maytals, Third World, Dennis Brown, and Steel Pulse.

Reggae music relies heavily on playing on the offbeat. How did you get comfortable playing such a syncopated style?

Being brought up in a musical family and watching my dad play reggae since I was a baby, I guess it's in my blood.

I've been comfortable playing reggae from a young age, so I guess it's second nature to me.

I believe you can only learn so much from YouTube, but working with reggae musicians creates a vibe that creates a sound that you can't learn from YouTube

What techniques did you practice on the KEYS to help create the authentic reggae feel?

I have jammed with a few Jamaican and Mauritian musicians along the way who taught me the pump aka the bubble.

That's all it comes down to with reggae. It's all about the feel, you can't teach that.

Do you feel you need to interact with other musicians to learn this style of music or can you learn it from YouTube?

I believe you can only learn so much from YouTube, but working with reggae musicians creates a vibe that creates a sound that you can't learn from YouTube.

You can probably learn a bit from YouTube, but reggae comes down to feel and connection, so I'd rather have that interaction with other musicians to be able to learn different styles.

Can you give me your top 5 reggae albums?

1984 Bob Marley's Legend was probably my favorite album with all the greatest hits like I Shot the Sheriff, Could You Be Loved, Stir It Up all the fan favs.

Another favorite album of mine is Catch a Fire by Tuff Gong.

Then would be Steel Pulse's Handsworth Revolution, Peter Tosh's Legalize It, and Gregory Isaacs' Night Nurse.

What projects are you currently working on?

I've been blessed to have written and produced two released tracks this year in collaboration with JH Records: LOVE & PROTECT and ON A MISSION.

Currently, I'm working on a new single coming out in January. This one is a collaboration with Marvin Priest called LOW TIDE.

Also, a few other surprises are coming up real soon.

Connect with Gino Nayna
Instagram / Spotify

Yossi Fine

Whether as a producer, arranger, or bassist, Yossi Fine’s unique and undeniable talents have made him one of the most in-demand names throughout several different genres.

Throughout his years of playing and recording, he has worked with everyone from David Bowie and Lou Reed to Stanley Jordan and Gil Evans and even as far outreaching as Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Naughty By Nature, and Gnawa master Hassan Hakmoun.

When most people think of reggae music, they instantly think of Bob Marley.  What other artists do you think were instrumental in creating reggae's sound?

1. Steel Pulse
2. Culture
3. Third World
4. Burnin Spear
5. Aswad

And the recording studios and engineers like King Tubby, Lee Perry, King Jammy, and the musicians who played—Ernest Ranglin (guitar), Sly Dunbar (drums), and Robbie Shakespear (bass). The influence they had on musicians and music is huge.

Reggae music relies heavily on playing on the offbeat.  How did you get comfortable playing such a syncopated style?

Reggae is quite simple music—the main thing is that you have to love it. If you don't love it, it's very easy to feel as a listener.

I do not feel it’s syncopated at all, it's just a very specific feel that you either love or not. Reggae is about the sound of it.

What techniques did you practice on the guitar to help create the authentic reggae feel?

As a guitar player in reggae, you better know how to play the bass line along with the bass.

And practice playing muted short notes—very very short. Also, the chord chops, are muted and short.

Reggae is quite simple music—the main thing is that you have to love it

Do you feel you need to interact with other musicians to learn this style of music or can you learn it from YouTube?

Reggae and any other music, you can study from YouTube to a point. Back before YouTube, we practiced listening to records at home.

However, the best way is to play with other musicians who are much better than you, listen to them, and play live in front of a live audience. That is the best method in my opinion.

Can you give me your top 5 reggae albums?

1. Aswad - A New Chapter of Dub
2. Lee Perry - Super Ape
3. Yellowman - Mister Yellowman
4. Steel Pulse - Tribute to the Martyrs & Handsworth Revolution
5. Culture - Two Sevens Clash

What projects are you currently working on?

Now I'm about to release my own album in March 2025. It has a fun funky Middle Eastern vibe.

Reggae and dub are always in my sound and the way I mix sounds - even though I'm not doing reggae nowadays, I always have it in my system.

For a while, I even spent time in Jamaica playing and even released a project called Ex-Centric Sound System. It was a 5-album project that mixed African funk, hip-hop, and a very dub influence.

One of those albums was recorded with Jamaican musicians and singers Ex-Centric Sound System—Afro Riddim Sessions.

Connect with Yossi Fine
Facebook / Instagram

Judex Rose

Judex Rose is a musician/songwriter born in Mauritius and living in Melbourne Australia. His goal is to spread a message of hope and positivity to broken souls through his original music and performances.

When most people think of reggae music they instantly think of Bob Marley. What other artists do you think were instrumental in creating reggae's sound?

Bob Marley is obviously the first one that people think of. To understand the foundation of what became reggae, we need to understand the traditional music of Jamaica and the history of the Jamaican people.

Ska and Rocksteady artists created the scope for the foundation for reggae. Despite their differences, Rocksteady laid the groundwork for reggae by influencing its musical style and thematic content.

Some important artists during the foundation and crossover period are The Skatalites, Toots and The Maytals, Desmond Dekker, and Jimmy Cliff.

Important artists that contributed to the evolution of the sound as we know it now are Burning Spear, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Gregory Isaacs, Peter Tosh, King Tubby, Third World— and there are many more to mention.

Reggae music relies heavily on playing on the offbeat. How did you get comfortable playing such a syncopated style?

I come from Mauritius Island, where we play a music style called Seggae. Seggae is a fusion genre of sega, the traditional music of the Mascarene Islands, and reggae. It was originally created in Mauritius in the mid-1980s by the Mauritian Rastafari singer Joseph Reginald Topize who was commonly known as Kaya and eventually became popular in the Mascarene Islands.

Seggae is one of the most popular music genres in Mauritius. Sega and Seggae are in duple meter 6/8, the guitar rhythm is accentuated on the 3rd and the 6th beats. So I guess being exposed to that form of music from an early age gives me a natural sense of groove and rhythm to execute syncopated style and ease to play in 6/8 compound meters. (lol it is in the DNA).

For Reggae, I just need to play 4/4 and the accents are on the 2nd and 4th beats.

What techniques did you practice on the guitar to help create the authentic reggae feel?

To create the skank, I needed to practice muting the strings with the left-hand fingers while playing the chords. Now, depending on the song tempo and the feel that I want to achieve for the song, I need to practice with different mute lengths and pressure on the strings. I practice my skank both downbeats and upbeats which have distinctive characteristic sounds.

Then there is a lot of practice to find the pocket. This is the most important aspect to achieve in that style. The sound as well is very important, as a clean amp sound is where I start with. Then find the sweet tone, boost mid, and cut some high—not too much as it is needed to hear the clear attack. Put a bit of spring reverb to thicken the skank sound.

In live situations, I found out that using a booster pedal while reducing the volume on the guitar and a fix wah-wah pedal helped achieve that authentic sound.

Do you feel you need to interact with other musicians to learn this style of music or can you learn it from YouTube?

YouTube is a great place to start to learn that style. There are a lot of good tutorials on how to play reggae. The only issue is that you need to make sure you are not learning the wrong way. It might take longer to learn something on YouTube as there is no one to correct you if you make a mistake in practicing.

Whereas learning with others gets you to learn faster and correct mistakes on the spot. Learning to play reggae music does not only involve technical aspects of the instrument, it also involves knowing the culture associated with that music, which deals with social justice, inequality, and spirituality.

To be able to be true to that music, you need to interact with other musicians and learn and understand.

For Reggae, I just need to play 4/4 and the accents are on the 2nd and 4th beats

Can you give me your top 5 reggae albums?

1. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Exodus
2. Groundation - We Free Again
3. Third World - 96° in the Shade
4. Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey
5. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Survival

What projects are you currently working on?

I am putting the finishing touches on my new album I’m A Migrant. The album has 17 tracks.

Through my songs, I speak about my struggles, my battles, and my journey in life from the perspective of a migrant.

My goal is to spread a message of hope and positivity to broken souls. I also advocate to give a firm voice to the oppressed population of Mauritius which is ruled by Dynasties of Family politicians, ruling the country in a fake democracy since their independence in 1968.

Connect with Judex Rose
Facebook / Facebook 2 / Instagram / Website

About Magesh Magesh

Magesh is a musician and producer who has worked with Rihanna, Lionel Richie, Ricky Martin, Chris Brown, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Nelly Furtado, and Vernon Reid of Living Colour. He released an instructional drumming DVD called "Unique Beats" where he mixed the drum kit with electronics and Indian hand percussion. He recently moved from Australia to the UK to explore new musical opportunities.
Website: mageshdrumteacher.co.uk

Contact Magesh Magesh at magesh.magesh7@gmail.com

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