Reggae Stylistic Fingerprints

Instrumentation:

Performance and Arrangement:

A standard drum kit is generally used in reggae,
Reggae drum beats fall into one of three main categories: One drop, Rockers, and Steppers
Reggae is played in 4/4 time
Recognisable offbeat rhythms
Staccato chords played by a guitar, piano or both on the offbeats of the measure, often referred to as the skanking
The tempo of reggae is usually slower than ska and rocksteady, approximately 60 to 90 bpm
Heavy use of syncopation
A Melodic Bass lines which plays a dominant role in reggae music
Simple chord progressions
Vocal call and response phrases
Horn sections are frequently used in reggae, often playing introductions and counter-melodies
The toasting vocal style is unique to reggae, originating when DJs improvised spoken introductions to songs
Reggae is noted for its tradition of social criticism in its lyrics, although many reggae songs discuss lighter, more personal subjects, such as love and socializing

Technology and Production:

The bass sound is thick and heavy, and equalised so the upper frequencies are removed and the lower frequencies emphasised.
The snare drum is often tuned very high to give it a timbales-type sound
The horn section is sometimes produced with punchier, louder phrases for a more up-tempo and aggressive sound.
Extensive use of the Delay effect

Stylistic Influences:

Sources and resources:
Reggae on wiki – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggae

Reggae Ska and Dub Stylistic Fingerprints