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Reggae drum pattern

Laid back; skanking guitar and keys on the off-beats. Here are its drums on a step grid, at the tempo it starts at, to hear and to change.

75 BPM · Live kit · 1 bar

The pattern, step by step

Each step is a sixteenth note, four to a beat: step 1 is beat 1, 5 is beat 2, 9 is beat 3 and 13 is beat 4. A lit square is a hit; a fainter one is played softer.

  • Hit
  • Softer hit
The reggae drum pattern: the steps each drum plays
DrumSteps
Open hat15 (soft)
Closed hat1, 3 (soft), 5, 7 (soft), 9, 11 (soft), 13, 15 (soft)
Cross-stick9
Kick9
Open these drums in the editor

They open as one drum lane on a step grid, at 75 BPM. No account needed to start.

How reggae drums go

One drop: no kick on 1, the kick and cross-stick together on beat 3, swung hats.

The bass, chords and sounds are on the Reggae page.

Questions about reggae drums

What BPM is reggae?

Usually 60 to 90 BPM. This pattern plays at 75 BPM.

How do you make a reggae drum pattern?

Start with the kick and cross-stick on step 9, the closed hi-hat on steps 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 and the open hi-hat on step 15. Each step is a sixteenth note, four to a beat: step 1 is beat 1, 5 is beat 2, 9 is beat 3 and 13 is beat 4. Open it in the free editor to change any step.

Do reggae drums swing?

No: every hit lands straight on the grid. The editor’s Steps view can add swing if you want the groove to bounce.

More Caribbean drum patterns

DancehallSocaRockers reggaeSteppers

Make a reggae beat

The free editor opens with a whole reggae beat: drums, bass and chords, each part yours to change, add to or take away.

Make a reggae beatAll drum patterns

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