Anyone a Conga Player?

[markjazzbassist]

i have been listening to some latin music lately and have decided that my next gear purchase will be a set of congas. does anyone play them that can give me some advice on a good set of congas, technique, best way to learn, etc., ?

thanks,



mark

[gottawalk]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

i have been listening to some latin music lately and have decided that my next gear purchase will be a set of congas. does anyone play them that can give me some advice on a good set of congas, technique, best way to learn, etc., ?

thanks,



mark

Sorry, I'm not a Conga player, but the same rules apply to all;
Research the instrument for the best or the ones that would work best for you.

Go play some out and find the ones you like.

Find a percussion instructor that will work with you and teach you the technique it takes to play the instrument.

Go and SEE and LISTEN to some players, (again; research the instrument and the players of it), and hear what they do so that you can learn from the "masters".

Follow these guidelines and you'll be on the way to being a Conga Virtuoso.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

This is the most renowned brand for everything latin percussion. You'll find lots of useful info there.

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

This is the most renowned brand for everything latin percussion. You'll find lots of useful info there.

thanks for the tip. i was looking at that brand for my set. they seem to have the best selection, plus they have a giovanni hidalgo set (who i saw live last year with jack dejohnette) and hidalgo is the KING of congas.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

hidalgo is the KING of congas.

Absolutely. For other famous conga players, check Poncho Sánchez and the late Ray Barretto.

[Thurisarz]

IIRC LP has some video lessons on there website Linkety link

[Bard2dbone]

There is a difficult line to walk for a beginning congero.

The better congas will have a traditional rim around the head. The traditional rim will tear up your hands. Several of the 'budget' models will have some kind of 'comfort rim' that will be much easier on your hands.

Real, serious congeros recognize my gear as cheap beginner stuff because of the 'comfort rim' hardware.

I'm just not sure I could have kept playing bass if I had gotten traditional rims on my congas and bongos. I would have destroyed my hands.

My set is a conga and quinto pair from Cosmic Percussion with a tumba and bongos from LP's Aspire line. All natural with black hardware.

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by Bard2dbone

The better congas will have a traditional rim around the head. The traditional rim will tear up your hands. Several of the 'budget' models will have some kind of 'comfort rim' that will be much easier on your hands.

yeah that's what im trying to decide between now. if i played the traditional rim ones enough though wouldn't my hands build up caluses and be okay eventually to play bass and stuff?

[Bard2dbone]

Once you've got good enough technique, after LOTS of practice, maybe a traditional rim won't jack up your hands.

But I still can't play 'good' congas and then function well on bass.