How To Do Changuito's Merensongo

[@singsjazz]

Nice Tribute to Changuito.

[@APercussionLife]

Thank you!

[@sushimamba4281]

In 2003 I traveled to Cuba on a 2 month percussion study trip. Near the end of my time there I was lucky enough to be introduced to Jose Luis Quintana. That was a dream come true for me. Changuito is an incredible conga player... just incredible. In the 90's I studied all those vids on VHS tape. 'Evolution of the Tumbadoras' was 2 years worth of study just in that one video alone - this was before there was anything on the internet about congas. What an innovator and player Changuito is!

[@ElpurienlaHabana]

Thanks for this video brother, I was with Giovanni and Alexis Pututi a Cuban drummer ones talking about music and musicians and those 2 master told me in a very humble way “Changuito invented everything that all uf us play today” I didn’t understand then that was in 2006 but now I do.

[@rjrichmusic]

Wore a bunch of those DVDs/VHSs out. I got travelling through time for christmas and no one else was home, I watched right through then started it again. Great memories of great musical didcoveries. Thanks for your great channel.

[@freddierodriguez3036]

I’m glad your channel brings light to great and sometimes forgotten musicians like this. Keep it up bro!

[@Mraustin489]

Hello there Eric, I don’t know if you remember me, but, you tought me at church way before you became KZbin famous. This was the first ever thing you tought me on the congas, and thankfully because of your amazing skills and wisdom I managed to learn it in 2 days. You’re the best Mr.Erick Peres!!!

[@Xlornick]

Nice. You've captured the excitement I had when I discovered Los Van Van in the 90s. I was convinced there was modern Cuban music out there, but back then you had to dig real deep to get to it. I had no idea what I was listening to, it seemed so far removed from Salsa, yet at it's foundation, it was the same stuff. I kept coming back to it and eventually was hooked. Underneath the great vocals and funky basslines, interlocking horns and violins, I'm always drawn to Changuito's playing. Dude is from another planet. Good stuff. Viva Changuito!

[@jaydeebishop2345]

So many memories from the 90's! i was digging that stuff on VHS at school. Just before the PS1... Love your channel!

[@cam0865]

Eric great session its really obvious that your influence in the beginning was Giovanni Hidalgo You emulate him im your playing but also have a unique skillet all on your own.. These sessions are my calming times Bless you Hermano

[@eriksvensson2433]

Wonderful! Really need to play more songo

[@arielshpitzer]

WOW ! I remeber downloading those and watching them in order to learn congas 20 years ago...

[@paulf3715]

I am a huge fan of yours and think that Percussion Life is probably one of the best (if not the best) on KZbin. I have to say that the depth and creative elements you add to your lessons are wonderful as is your sense of humor that I really appreciate. There is only one improvement that I would love to see in the future and that would be the addition of musical notes. There are some on YTube that include them in their tutorials and for me, that additional" tool" makes it a lot easier learning the rhythms. Hearing and watching for some works the best, but I love reading the percussion musical notes as well as listening and watching. You know that when you do any rhythm and multiple(12) variations like Tumbao or Funk it's a lot to learn and the written rhythms would ease the way for me. Thanks for all you do. You're a pleasure to listen to both verbally, musically, and percussively.

[@paulchalmus2612]

Thank you! I LOVED this!!!

[@mazonbel2]

Very insightful! The way you spread the knowledge helps make it more approachable. Great foundation and technique but we have to put in the work.

[@Javier-nm2kx]

Bro...! Crazy, when I first started timbales, the DVD I grabbed was the masters which you had a clip of. When they opened with their "typical jam" blew what mind I had left! Who's this lefty on the congas? I already knew who Changuito was because of Los Van Van but I believe he was with El Grupo Reve. When he solo'ed...yo! I was like you ain't supposed to do that en la paila! I appreciate this groove, the honor of him and the respect to the music history Well done brother!

[@biggerduke]

Thanks for the tip, hermano. Have you tried doing like a light bass touch on beat three and then a toe touch in your weak hand before doing the three open tones to see if that makes it easier? And then a soft bass touch again right before you do the last open in your weak hand before the last tone on the conga if that makes it easier? That’s what I’m doing just to fill up the sound a little bit more. Thanks for bringing up that it’s an open slap and not a closed slap on the two side of the clave. And also the very last open tone on the conga on the three side of the clave. That helps clear things up for I.

[@dipperstuckey537]

Thank you bro I appreciate that so much this video bring back many memories and Grover Cleveland High School where I played trombone and Congress not a days go by I do not feel the beat a video will be returned

[@heldermanuel6826]

Respect... Hat's of to changuito and you Eric

[@mac102984]

Lol my brother you and me were probably watching that video at the same time! That was my first and I was hooked and also watched on my ps2!

[@rlinn1000]

Hey Eric, there is also a beautiful variation on the track Disco Azucar which moves the slaps to 4+ (measure 1) and 2 (measure 2) to sync with the rumba clave. Very different to play.

[@megadrumhead]

I started with that DVD by the great Giovanni Hildago. Loved that DVD. The one with Hernandez is crazy. Being a gospel musician I loved finding ways of incorporating all of this into what I was playing. Really gave me a different sound and feel compared to the more somewhat go-go style I was hearing.

[@Squirrelconga]

Songo is similar to some of the gospel rhythms. It's crazy how similar! 🤯

[@nino-ciampa]

Do you have any tips on finding gigs/playing opportunities for Latin musicians?

[@sacha84arg]

Gracias Eric! Esa base de Changuito es la que utiliza Pedrito Martinez en su cover de "Que Palo" precisamente. Un abrazo desde Argentina, gracias por tanto!

[@oskargamero6852]

Awesome video and groove! I remember that DVD

[@APercussionLife]

Thanks brother!!!

[@renev8223]

Even with the change he be proud of you.👍🏼 thanks

[@DEVAULT.]

Fantastic video 📹 Thank you 🥁

[@RayGonz787]

Yo Eric, could you do a video breaking down the tumbao that Kachiro does in the moña of "Libro De Amor".

[@gordonjones4531]

You gave instruction from one of the true innovators well done. By the way did you listen to Superfly with percussionist Henry Gibson.

[@mazonbel2]

What kind of skin are those? The sound is so rich, clear, crisp and natural!

[@anlashok42]

Damn, where the hell have I been?!? Just came across your channel, Sir. Thank you for doing this!

[@GodSunHotep]

Could you do a video on chuck browns style dc gogo

[@marcuspratt9277]

Ok Perez, I have the same skins from Manito but not the same sound. I thoroughly believe it’s my congas. What congas exactly do you have that give that awesome sound with Manito Steer skins?

[@Mafioso1731]

There's not much more I can say that has already been said. Your videos are amazing, through, I love the respect you show to the history of the music and the players. What I love most is how you easily accessible you make this to anyone who knows nothing. You show case the evolution and everything so clearly and beautifully. I wanted to ask you brother, what kind of skins and or congas are you using?

[@APercussionLife]

Thank you so much! I got the skins from www.manitopercussion.com and the congas I’m using are the Meinl Kachiro Thompson Series

[@spunkito3]

Eric you are my mentor! Luv what you do!!! I need a simple favor from you! I have three congas LP Aspire 10” 11” and 12”. My question is at what note do I tune each one? 10” = ? 11” = ? And 12” = ? Thank you in advance my Latino brother!

[@APercussionLife]

I would say you lowest drum to a G, your main drum to a C and your middle tone drum to a B

[@APercussionLife]

With the Aspire’s it’s a bit tough but you may have to do it at lower octaves

[@TonoAyalaB-cf7uj]

Gracias 😊👌👍

[@naninchooky7895]

How do you control the ringing of the conga

[@grillofacundo]

Hola compañero! consulta ahí tenés afinado el quinto en MI y la conga en Sol# ? puede ser? me gusta el sonido.. Gracias por los videos! muy buenos! Abrazo!

[@smllzr2]

Story goes, giovanni claimed changuito was his mentor because of his acknowledgement worldwide but his teacher was actually David la mole. And it's not to take anything away from changuito. He was obviously a force. But when it comes to conga, just check out david la mole

[@APercussionLife]

Yup! Did a video of him already haha A True Legend! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIrccqVnpbV3e6M

[@ElpurienlaHabana]

The story goes many different ways but if you see Giovanni play timbales is has more changuito influence then anyone else and in congas the same, changuito is by far the most innovative percussionist in afrocuban music history. I love La Mole RIP but Gio maybe took classes from him but his influence is changuito and tata guines and him self Giovanni is the greatest

[@smllzr2]

@@ElpurienlaHabana check out Callejon de hamel. I agree that Gio and Changuito have similar styles, but to say the greatest? I'm not exactly on board with that one. Even in this one clip the guy that's not gio or changuito has phrasing and style that is remarkable even amongst these two amazing musicians.

[@ElpurienlaHabana]

@@smllzr2 brother Yoel Driggs I know him personally and I had the pleasure of traveling to Cuba 20 plus time in the last 5 years and I was born there, I also spent hours listening to Giovanni’s playing here in Orlando where I live for over 20 years. You don’t have to agree and I respect that but I never came across a percussionist in Cuba and we are talking about hundreds that I know that didn’t told me Giovanni is the greatest. Hand placement, technic, speed but most important he’s manana/ sabor or his brain to put frases and ideas together is amazing and let’s not forget his sound is perfect also.

[@smllzr2]

@@ElpurienlaHabana that's awesome you had the chance to befriend such ppl. And I bet there were many that sang Gio's praises. And I would have been honored to meet any one of the three musicians we're talking about! Personally Driggs has a style that I can listen to all day. I'd just have to say the tone, color, rhythm and placement of notes of Jerry Gonzales is much preferred in my opinion.

Great video 🎉

[@WilliamJohnsonmusic]

Yo! I have that Traveling Through Time DVD Insane!

[@gustavoperez1212]

Buenísimo

It’s time for an updated church songo

[@alainhoarau3213]

Changuito plays also bongo, he is the reference like Johh Coltrane & Charlie Parker for Jazz music

[@palomares05]

Fuego!!!!

[@SukromnaHudobnaSkola]

you are cool dude, I visited my profile for Europe, thank you

[@angelcoh2047]

Hola eric quisiera que hicieras un video del mismo pero en español

[@dariusstringfield1634]

What kinda conga head do you have

[@APercussionLife]

It’s a Dark Steer Skin from Manito Percussion. You can get them here www.manitopercussion.com

[@franklinperez7835]

Lo que no hablamos ingles estamos en el aire podría ser al mismo tiempo en ingles y en español y abarca los dos segmentos . CARACAS - VENEZUELA.

[@davidlagos2968]

Jeje te toca esperar a cuando lo haga en spanish

[@nicolascastrovargas8494]

Para cuando en español?

[@quintanillapeinture127]

You can have the 2 ghost notes even more ghostey by hitting the rim instead of the skin ! Thanks for the variations !

[@crossignal3126]

🖤

[@rorropercusion9695]

Y el Songo???

[@APercussionLife]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnSzm2SKrK9pbNE

[@mariogomez-li4tr]

Sabroso !!!

[@megadrumhead]

Wish we had KZbin growing up. Lol Telling our age.

[@kiqueirrazabal7372]

Habla en español! Aquí me hablas en español!!

[@made9920]

Mira lo que has hecho, ya ni me acordaba de esta musica, creci con ella y aun me pone los pelos de punta kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHmon6eYidhoprc