DRUMMER CAFE

One Drop is a rhythmic approach in the Reggae music genre. It just means that you don't play on beat 1 ... you are still in 4/4 or Common Time, the time signature doesn't change ... but beat 1 is silent. This does NOT mean that you can't ever play on beat 1. You can do whatever you want, placing the HiHat, Snare, Tom, Cymbal, anything on beat 1 if you want; its not a rule set in stone. You can even put the Kick drum on beat 1 if you want ... but you need to only do that occasionally or it will cease to be a Reggae One Drop.

EXAMPLES

Listen to Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry" from the Legend album. The tune is slow and the opening is exposed so you can really hear what the drummer is doing; this is a one drop. Listen to this entire album as well.