Conga Lesson #1 Conga Basics

Here is the first of several conga video lessons I will post.
This one explains the difference between the types of drums, the types of skins you can use, basic hand technique and the basic strokes.
The strokes discussed in the video are:
Heel Toe (palm fingers rocking motion), this should be considered as one stroke.
Slap (open and closed)
Open Tone
Palm dead stroke (also bass tone if in center of drum)
The drums are:
Quinto- small
Conga- medium
Tumba- large
Optional Drums are:
Super Tumba-very large
Nino-very small
The book discussed in the video is Advanced coordination for drum set and hand percussion. It is available from me at [e-mail].
You can read more about it here:
www.acousticbarn.com/ricksperc...

[@davidmcaninch4714]

I’m an aspiring drummer/percussionist. I want to learn everything about drums and percussion, particularly world percussion. Now, I’m not a world music expert or fan, but I think the reason I lean towards world percussion is because it offers a different kind of challenge. I’ve been playing drum kit for a long time and I love it!!!! And if I can add world percussion to genres like rock, and even blues, I’d be a happy musician!!! In all seriousness, I think it’s 100% necessary for a kit drummer to learn about hand drums as well: congas, bongos, djembe, cajon, and even timbales!!! True the timbales aren’t hand drums per se, but learning to play them as well can be most beneficial, and fun as well!!!! I mean if you’re learning an instrument and you’re not having any fun with it, what’s the point? And there’s a quote from Avatar: The Last Airbender from my favorite character, Uncle Iroh: “It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If you take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale. Understanding others, the other elements, and the other nations, will help you become whole.”

[@dfresh2792]

Fantastic conversation thank you. It is a pleasure and privilege to listen to your knowledge, experience and teachings thank you. I appreciate the time and effort you've put in to make this thank you. Keep on!

[@MaTTheWish]

I would just like to add that I have met so many great respectful drummers at various drum circles and have been a part of groups who had very deep pockets of knowledge about historical and traditional and modern Conga and hand drum techniques and rhythms. I would just like to say that I don't think anyone should be deterred from going to a drum circle because they think the standard of drummers will be lower, each person will usually have a different level of skill and of course there are people who are not that great, but they're usually aficionados who like to play for real. Anyway this does seem to be a great resource for drummers too, love your content. Been enjoying your channel!

[@simonrudolfsuryakencana9624]

i like the way you explain, simple but clear, tq bro

[@nikomedessene1592]

Thanks for the lessons...so awesome to learn from it

[@arbobs]

Saved my butt with this video! I was running my hand into the drum when slapping until now!

[@julianangelatos2319]

Thanks so much for your all of your videos Rick. I'm a drum-set player band leading a dance-fusion project. I'm wanting to expand the ensemble and use more percussion in the arrangements. Your videos have been a godsend!

[@wileyriveaux8666]

Great lesson, thanks for posting! Been playing the djembe for a couple years, but really love the conga sound and the afro cuban beats, so...just got some LP congas! I am excited to begin my conga journey. Slightly complicating things is that I play left handed, so I have to "translate" some of what I hear and see. Thanks again for the great lesson.

[@rickdior]

Good luck, Wiley and enjoy your journey.

[@josephg.bradetich3064]

Great stuff

[@Nassoud60]

It’s amazing this is very good explanation

[@bbradleyish]

So much knowledge with the goods to back it up. 👏🏼👏🏼 Informative and inspiring. 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@robertboney4493]

Great technique by a great percussionist.

[@twli]

great one, thank you!

[@rezyabdurahman]

a truly gem vid, bravo!

[@drums2114]

Just discovered you FANTASTIC

[@janetremsing6988]

👍‼️Most excellent!!

[@rhythmkeeper]

Thanks Rick! I study with Gordy Knudtson which is how I heard about you. But, you showed up in my feed today. Maybe it's a spooky smart phone thing but I was giving a conga lesson the other day and helping t someone understand the tumbadura part in Noche De Los Maya by Silvestre Revueltas. I've always found orchestral scores use strange notation for world drums but I guess it's the nature of things. I enjoyed your demonstrations and clear explanations. You got yourself a new subscriber 👍🏼

[@rickdior]

Hi Michael Tell Gordy hello for me. Glad you could watch the video. I have some others in my Latin Percussion Playlist. Stay well Rick

[@katemarin8703]

STROKES 13:55 17:05 CLOSED SLAP AND BASIC GROOVE

[@jono540]

Great vid! Are you using some drums the same size and tuning differently or are they all different sizes? I have 4 drums but 2 are the same size, so not sure whether this will work properly tuning wise?

[@rickdior]

Hi Jon These are all slightly different sizes but only by an inch (or less). There is no issue with using drums that are the same size as long as your tuning is different, but you will want your slap drum (quinto) to be smaller than the rest if possible so that you can tune it up very high.

[@jono540]

@@rickdior Thanks Rick. Yes when you refer to it as the Slap Drum, it instantly makes sense! Thats great, I'lll keep with the 4 for now!

[@billyzoom1]

Hi, Rick. Thank you for the great video. Just bought my first conga…bought a used good quality quinto (Gon Bops Acuña model). I already want to buy a conga and wondered if you’d mind sharing whether you feel it matters much tonally to get the “matching” brand and model, or if it’s not a big deal, as long as it’s of similar quality and maybe construction.I’m having to buy used, so it may take a while to find a used matching model at a reasonable price, especilly given it probably won’t be long before I also want a tumba. Thanks again.

[@rickdior]

Hi You don't have to get the same brand but all conga brands sound slightly different and it would be best to stick with the same wood and shape. That said I used an LP fiberglass conga as my quinto drum for years in NYC and a Gon Bops Mahogany Drum as my conga.

[@billyzoom1]

@@rickdior thank you!

[@felipehernandez511]

Hey Rick how do you tune your congas, by ear, tune Bot ??

[@rickdior]

Hi Felipe I tune by ear. I tune the quinto (small drum first) for slaps and then tune the conga and the tumba. Usually in 3rds. Thanks

[@darrylbrooks1095]

Hey Rick I have a 10.1/2 a 11.1/2 and a 11.75 how do I tune them

[@rickdior]

In 3rds or 4ths

[@michaelangelo6947]

I've always wanted to play and now at 58, I'm considering buying a drum to begin at home. What are your thoughts? Should I get the two drums or just begin with the first one you recommended? Do you think it's realistically possible to learn to play well now? I'm not interested in gigs or anything; just to play at home for enjoyment.

[@rickdior]

Hi Micheal One is fine to get started. If you can find a good used set of 2 that would be better. Look for LP Matador or Classics. It's never too late to start and you are young! Same age as me.

[@wilfredoflores1961]

Hi were can I buy your dvd or book to learn play congas

[@rickdior]

Hi Wilfredo you can email me at [e-mail] Thanks Rick

[@alistaircornacchio5727]

Where might you direct someone looking to learn how to play? Listening and playing along?

[@rickdior]

Hi You should take some lessons from a professional. That's how I learned.

[@alistaircornacchio5727]

@@rickdior Thanks. I really love your videos, thanks for sacrificing your time to make them

[@stevekimball7697]

Yes!

[@ashitari7]

Why are you playing while wearing a ring. I was taught that it was bad for the skin.

[@rickdior]

Thats not true. You will not break a conga head from wearing a wedding band. If you play correctly with a slightly curved hand the ring should not even touch the head. Plus if you keep taking your ring off when you play you will most likely lose it.

[@DavidGarcia-ov3bg]

Could be a rubber ring