Topic: Just Bought New Congas.

[Erk]

Hey everyone, I just bought a new set of congas that came with a free pair of bongos a few months ago. I got to sit in at an open mic and all they had were congas, so I thought they were fun and decided to buy some.  Other than this, I've never really played congas before and I'm wondering if there are any great dvd's/books that anyone would recommend me picking up? I'm a beginner, and have only learned a few rhythms off of YouTube.  I'll eventually be going back to drum lessons when I can afford a car, but until now books/dvd's are all I have.

Also, is it correct to tune them to C and G? Smallest one to C and biggest one G? I got this off of an Evans video on YouTube, is this correct?

Thanks, any help would be awesome.

[James Doyle]

Erk,

To begin with, tuning of the drums will depend on their size.  What drums did you purchase and what are the diameters?  As for a good reference, especially if you play drum set and want to learn a bit about the other instruments (like your bongos), check out The Essence of Afro-Cuban Percussion and Drum Set by Ed Uribe.  There are dozens of specialized books/methods/videos out there, but this one gives a great overview.

Good luck!

James

[Bart Elliott]

There's not one way to tune any drum, including Congas.

Depending on the drum's size, shape, bearing edge, etc., the tuning and pitch will vary from drum to drum (conga to conga). Each drum will have a range from which it can be tuned, and within that range, may only have a few select pitches that sound best.

FYI ... it's impossible to tune any drum (ie. membranophone) to a perfect pitch.

Depending on the music and the number drums I'm using, I'll tune anywhere from a Perfect 5th (Do - So) to a Major 2nd (Do - Re). When I'm using two congas, I usually tune them so the interval between the drums is a Minor 3rd, Perfect 4th or Perfect 5th. The more drums used, the smaller the intervals must become. This is true for Tom Toms as well.

For recording sessions, I typically tune the congas so they fit the key of the song. I'm not going for exact pitches, although sometimes I do, but going for a good sound that sits well in the song/mix is the most important. Finding pitches that fit the key of the song can really make a positive difference in your overall performance and sound.

[Tim van de Ven]

There's not one way to tune any drum, including Congas.

Depending on the drum's size, shape, bearing edge, etc., the tuning and pitch will vary from drum to drum (conga to conga). Each drum will have a range from which it can be tuned, and within that range, may only have a few select pitches that sound best.

FYI ... it's impossible to tune any drum (ie. membranophone) to a perfect pitch.

Depending on the music and the number drums I'm using, I'll tune anywhere from a Perfect 5th (Do - So) to a Major 2nd (Do - Re). When I'm using two congas, I usually tune them so the interval between the drums is a Minor 3rd, Perfect 4th or Perfect 5th. The more drums used, the smaller the intervals must become. This is true for Tom Toms as well.

For recording sessions, I typically tune the congas so they fit the key of the song. I'm not going for exact pitches, although sometimes I do, but going for a good sound that sits well in the song/mix is the most important. Finding pitches that fit the key of the song can really make a positive difference in your overall performance and sound.

As the old saying goes, "Stop drilling, you've hit oil".

This post is great.

[Jose Rosa]

My friend, the truth is that "Tumbadoras" (real name for Congas) are not really supposed to be "tuned" to an specific note. But yes, we do have some "standard" tuning. The reason we use musical notes at the time of teaching is because we want to give you an idea of how the instrument is supposed to sound. When I use 2 tumbadoras, I tune in 4th and think of the first 2 notes of the Wedding March as my starting point. When using 3 tumbadoras, I play around with the tuning until I find a sound that I like.

I remember many years ago talking to Mongo Santamaria (RIP) and asking him what it was the best way to tune the tumbadoras and he told me this: "The best way to tune a tumbadora is by listening to the sound in your head and try to replicate that sound in the instrument." The more you practice and listen to other players, the more ideas you will get for tuning your tumbadoras.

All the best to you and good luck,
Jose Rosa

[Paulina Toro]

Hi Erk!

Good luck with the congas! I'm currently learning the timbales and often my teacher will play congas alongside me on the timbales. I've had a little go on the congas before, and they look like a fun instrument! Are you primarily a drumkit drummer?

A name I've heard before is a guy called Giovanni Hidalgo.

He's supposed to be a bit of a master on the congas, and timbales too!

One video I found of his:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9jjnt_master-conga-player-giovanni-hidalg_music
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I'm sure you'll find lots of other amazing players out there too!

[Bart Elliott]

A name I've heard before is a guy called Giovanni Hidalgo.

He's supposed to be a bit of a master on the congas, and timbales too!

Giovanni is most definitely a master conguero; one of the best in the world.

You'll be able to check him out on Drummer Cafe TV next week, or watch his entire conga clinic performance by subscribing to the Drummer Cafe Premium Resources.