What Does Ska Sound Like?

Ok, curious one. Now you know how Ska originated. But what does it sound like? Well, this is one of the most common questions asked about ska. Here is your answer:

Ska bands have a guitar, bass, and drums. Most have any number of horns and a vocalist. Many also have an organ or some other kind of instrument such as an organ. Ska more or less refers to the rhythm, namely and emphasis on the offbeat, usually played by the guitar, horns, piano, organ, or the other instrument, and emphasis on the 2nd and 4th drop beats, and often a "walking" bassline. While traditional ska sounds a lot like reggae, most modern ska bands sound have a "rock-like" beat. Punk is optional only.