The sound of ReggaeBlues

ReggaeBlues is the name of my Dutch blog on emigration to the Friendly Island. Is there such a thing, ReggaeBlues that is? I have actually tried numerous times to produce a crossover between the two, but never did it really sound sound - it turned out either too bluesy or to reggae-esk.

Now here's a bit of theory. The problem is really that reggae's all about the backbeat - the second and the fourth count. At the same time, for any blues solo or riff to sound really bluesy, it's the first count that counts - if you try to stress the second or the fourth, it just doesn't sound right. Moreover, both genres typically use different harmonies. The happy sound of reggae derives from minor chords, whereas the more sorrowful sound of blues actually is generated by mayor chords (quite counterintuively). Also the scales differ.... It's just hard to blend!

Okay, let's forget about music theory, I have probably lost you already here. Both types of music derive from african slaves brought to the new world - could you find more distinct varieties? It goes to show the wealth of their music.