Conga Tumbao Variations: Fast Tempo Jazz Feel by Ben Makinen

[@lindasmith6668]

I really appreciated how you broke everything down. Tremendous. Thank you so much. 😊

[@BmakinFilm]

That makes me very happy to hear Linda - thank you. Best of luck w your music! I hope you'll check out the documentary films I have made: JazzTown and www.vimeo.com/ondemand/whokilledjazz I am also editing a doc on women in jazz! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGmVo5yKqrmXeZI

[@toejam6613]

Ben, you've saved my bacon!! Thanks so so much.

[@BmakinFilm]

My pleasure - thanks for piggin out on my vid!

[@SaltBushCity]

Thanks for this. Very useful. Very generous of you.

[@BmakinFilm]

You are most welcome Mick - have fun playing!

[@mongofan1]

Great lesson, Ben. Thanks, Alex

[@BmakinFilm]

I am glad you enjoyed it Alex

[@bebobalula]

Hey Ben Macaroni, great ideas. Thank you!

[@BmakinFilm]

My pleasure! Thanks Robbing The Hut;-)

[@daveargall3454]

Great variations - love the 'turn about'!

[@BmakinFilm]

Thanks so much!

[@GrootsieTheDog]

Awesome. As a relative newby, I discovered this one on my own but I thought I was "cheating" or "breaking the rules". This video is very revelatory because its opened up the idea that I don't have to follow rules as much as i thought. I found a video with the great CANDIDO CAMERO and on this particular vid he gets rid of the double strokes altogether. Just plays a straight tumbao alternating left/right the entire way. Your vid and his created a synthesis for me and inspired me to put together some "tumbao rudiments" that strengthen the ability to play the tumbao regardless of the hand pattern as well develop technique that allows one to throw in different accents and drums without loosing the tumbao groove and flow.

[@BmakinFilm]

Thank you Cosmo - I am thrilled for your discovery and honored to have been a part of it. Music is about making sound, however you are able to make it. Sometimes rules and patterns are helpful and arguably necessary, sometimes they are neither :-) Play what you feel and play what the music needs. Let your creativity set you free. It is always good to know the rules before you break them. But in music, what came first: rules, or freedom to invent?

[@daveargall3454]

Interesting idea...I don't know exactly how Candido played it this way but it's made me think of alternating the 'heel toe' and all the strokes would be played on the opposite side following the two open tones. Thanks

[@markharris4539]

And a happy New year to you to Ben.

[@drummonk3699]

Super helpful and insightful video! PRACTICAL!!!! Thanks!

[@BmakinFilm]

Drum Monk I’m glad you found this practical. I’ll be posting more this year- thanks for watching!

[@bobgure]

Thanks for a great post.

[@BmakinFilm]

You’re most welcome bobgure! Thanks for watching.

[@dirtydan2007]

very nice

[@peacauve]

Very coooooooooooooooooooool. Thanks a lot. I subscribed.

[@BmakinFilm]

youuuuuuuuuuuu are mooooooost welcome:-)

[@Ponch341]

Real nice Lesson Ben, ~ Thanks

[@jayswiz4651]

Really helpful thanks :)

[@BmakinFilm]

JaySwiz You are welcome!

[@BmakinFilm]

Thank you very much Ponch!

[@MrVegasTube]

Very interesting and useful.

[@BmakinFilm]

Thank you N!

[@2006crt]

Nice one Ben.

[@BmakinFilm]

Christopher Talbot Thank you - and thanks for the link to the great Antonio Sanchez solo from your google+ page: that guy is incredible!

[@markharris4539]

Good vid mate, learned alot. Cheers!

[@BmakinFilm]

Mark Harris You’re welcome Mark. Happy New Years and thanks for your kind comment.

[@waynebij]

This is great, do you have the transcriptions still ...

[@BmakinFilm]

Hello - This is my newest Conga lesson - Please share this with drummers you know. Thanks - Ben

[@Jrenglehorn]

Awesome!!!!! Digging this. Still have those transcriptions??? Would love one.

[@BmakinFilm]

Hello - thanks for diggin! I have been trapped (pandemic) on other side of the world away from my computer... but i will write some of these out for you😇

[@keitharoo1962]

This really helped me, as an intermediate player, to keep up with a faster beat when my Tumbao isn't fast enough yet. Thanks!!!

[@BmakinFilm]

Right on!

[@SenSkywalking]

these are good to have but theres some easier variations. just me but i think the alternating 3 fill after your slap distorts the marcha "sound". i might leave it at a doubles roll w/right hand alternating slaps and opens to start and throw some optional rests around if you want to boil it down to singles

[@BmakinFilm]

Sounds good to me - thanks for sharing Mike!

[@nazarenodadamante8703]

...and then when they point you for a conga solo.... Good Luck. Hahahahah great vid

[@BmakinFilm]

Thank you Naz! Keep playin'!

[@Pleasure1964]

Just no. you're great but just,,,, no on this.

[@BmakinFilm]

Please explain

[@conga59]

@@BmakinFilm​​⁠I think that he maybe see and hear that when you get faster the quality of the sounds you produce decrease especially because of your right hand and also surely because what ever you play here has to be related to the music in terms of how to incorporate your pattern In the drum s’ one. what we clearly hear too is that you stay focused on the tempo but not on what is happening IN the music. Of course you could reply that it is not true but as a percussionist since 44 years I strongly recommend you to check how to play a proper tumbao using the heel_toe technique on KZbin: conga lesson Changuito-evolution of the tumbadoras congas- You can go at 9.35 minutes when they start to talk about all the different strokes -on el tambor- With respect have a good one and thank you for the ideas and for everything you said which is so true.