What is Roots Reggae?

The classic sound — guitar and keys chopping on the off-beat ("skank"), a melodic prominent bassline and a relaxed one-drop drum pattern.

Reggae60–90 BPM typical

Not sure this is your track?

Drop the file in and it will tell you which category and genre it actually is, what the secondary and tertiary picks were, and what it heard that put them in that order. Free, no account, and the file stays on your device.

Identify my track

Listen for

off-beat guitar/organ skank
one-drop kick on beat 3
melodic lead bassline
laid-back groove

Reference artists

Bob MarleyBurning Spear

Anchors rather than an exhaustive canon — if your track sits near these, this is probably the right label.

Usual tempo 60–90 BPM. Sitting outside that range does not disqualify a track; it just makes the tells matter more.

Easy to confuse with

The nearest neighbours in Reggae, by tempo. If Roots Reggae does not quite fit, one of these usually does.

Dub60–90 BPM
Reggae deconstructed in the mixing desk. Vocals and instruments drop in and out through huge echo and reverb, with bass and drums left exposed.
Dancehall90–110 BPM
Faster, digital and vocal-forward. Sparse programmed riddims with rapid patois toasting over the top.