Guitar is by far the most common instrument used to play ska. Unlike reggae, which uses downstrokes on the note, ska uses upstrokes to produce a higher sound on the guitar. While playing, you should provide quick mutes to cause the choppy sound. Ska is played on a variety of instruments. Ska is played on the offbeat (opposite of when the snare drum hits) and starts with a mute. Instruments that are used to create this sound are the organ, piano, trumpet, trombone, and saxophone. All of these instruments can be used to create that choppy sound that we love so much!

Here's a video to show how you how to play ska on the guitar:

How to Dance to Ska! Skanking!

Skanking is the de-facto dance of Ska. It was created in Jamaica for ska music and has spread to a variety of genres.  Here's how:

Step 1: Listen to the music carefully. When you can sort out the beats, you should begin by alternately putting each foot forward and taking it back. This is similar to a two-step, in ballroom terms.

Step 2: Add the arms. The elbows stay bent, and the hands can be balled into fists; the right hand comes forward when the left foot is out, and the left hand comes forward when the right foot is out. When a hand isn't forward, it ought to come back about as far as the hip.

Step 3: Smooth it out. It helps to bob your head along with this movement. If your head goes down on all the ordinary beats (1-2-3-4), it comes up on all the upbeats (the little "ands" in between).

Step 4: Repeat.

Here is a video to help you learn to skank:

The history of the dance: Skanking is a form of dancing practiced in the ska, ska punk, hardcore punk, reggae, grime and other music scenes. The dance style originated in the 1950s or 1960s at Jamaican dance halls, where ska music was played. British mods and skinheads of the 1960s adopted these types of dances and altered them. The dancing style was revived during the 1970s/1980s 2 Tone era, and has been adopted by some individuals in the hardcore punk subculture. The punk version features a sharp striking out look with the arms, and is sometimes used in moshing to knock around others doing the same. The striking out with the arms while traveling in a circle is also common in psychobilly "wrecking." Skanking may also be performed in a circle and is commonly known as a "Skank Pit".