The term FORM OF REGGAE can be summarized as SKA, a three letter word. SKA is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and is considered to be the precursor to reggae. It is characterized by a walking bass line, accented guitar or piano rhythms on the offbeat, and a drumming style that emphasizes the upstroke. It is often seen as a combination of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues.