How to Play a Conga Slap Without Hurting Your Hands

Playing congas can hurt your hands, especially with improper technique. This video explains how to play a conga slap. It focuses on how to develop your hands without hurting them. You will feel some pain playing congas, but the wrong approach can leave you with injuries.
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DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

[@RhythmNotes]

FREE Download 🔽 gum.co/congapatterns

[@vivaanwestin1915]

@Bentlee Issac Instablaster =)

[@bentleeissac9557]

@Vivaan Westin thanks for your reply. I found the site thru google and Im in the hacking process now. Seems to take a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@ralflang5524]

Use Sheabutter to treat hands that hurt from playing. Apply a good amount rub it into the skin of your hands and bathe them in water that is so hot that you can hardly take the heat, then massage hands until most of the grease is soaked up by the skin, repeat up to two times. Use pure african sheabutter. It takes some effort but it works. Learned this from drummers in Mali.

[@RhythmNotes]

I totally agree, Ralf. And that’s great advice to bathe your hands in hot water.

[@rejimathewphdlcswreat-expr5328]

Such a thoughtful, brilliant video! Yes, it is about playing lightly and soulful so you can last a musical lifetime! You are such an amazing teacher. Thank you!

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad you enjoyed it! ... and than you for the kind words.

[@ObscureMachines]

Great vid! I've been struggling with a good slap without dramatically changing playing position, hand position, etc and I've been watching all the pros and noticing that nothing really changes in their stroke. This vid really explained it well and now it makes sense!

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad it helped!

[@timothyevans334]

Great informative lesson. Nice.

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad you liked it!

[@brucecollis8609]

Thank you so much, I am inspired by your videos.

[@RhythmNotes]

You are very welcome!

[@user-xx7yt1ik6x]

Greatly appreciate it!

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad to help!

[@patriciaalley1562]

Thanks. I'm a beginner. This is really helpful.

[@RhythmNotes]

I’m glad you find it helpful!

[@markborges3056]

Good advice

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad it was helpful!

[@PakLetMalangPercussion]

cool👏

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks

[@ogidiconga5516]

Nice

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks!

[@ramonmontes]

Wish i would it watch your video before i hurt my middle finger, have experienced trigger finger and it hurts, unable to play at the moment.

[@RhythmNotes]

Been there .. it sucks! I hope you heal well soon so you can back to playing.

[@ambervalleydrumschool]

Love your videos! Just wondered what heads you are using on here.... Nu-Skyn? Have you tried various synthetic heads?

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks! The heads are NuSkyn. I’m thinking about trying some different heads to do a comparison in 2021. Do you have any recommendations?

[@ambervalleydrumschool]

@@RhythmNotes I've never tried any... im really a kit drummer but just starting to dabble in congas and bongos. Thanks again, those congas sound great. Stay safe and keep those videos coming!

[@gerardocorrea9559]

Thanks for the advice. I have a gig this next Sunday and my right thumb hurts so bad. Every time I try a open slap my thumb hits the rim and it hurts.

[@RhythmNotes]

Happy to help!

[@TehCraZyLowK]

Hey man im really struggling with one hand slap. Is not consistent and tone comes out. Could you please do a more detailed video? Love your stuff tyvm

[@RhythmNotes]

The only difference between an open tone and a slap is the fingers are relaxed for a slap. Are you leaving your hand in the drum after playing the slap?

[@xave9989]

Hello. There is perhaps no link but I have recently seen a video of Giovanni Hidalgo with some fingers missing... Because of playing too much congas? I hope so not! Have you information about that?

[@RhythmNotes]

I know that he has diabetes and hasn’t been able to play professionally for several years. But I haven’t seen his fingers or anything lately. It’s really sad. He’s a living legend.

[@sushimamba4281]

From what I heard he had to have fingers removed due to complications from diabetes - not from playing congas thankfully.

[@Rudementality]

I saw him play with the missing fingers at PASIC a few years ago. He’s adapted a new technique of playing where he utilizes different sized and material claves! It was amazing. I doubt anyone would be able to tell much though, just by watching him. Unless you’re really familiar with his earlier playing.

[@Invert_Scrub]

Any opinion on playing with sticks or mallets? I've seen a lot of Beginning percussionists do this.

[@RhythmNotes]

If it sounds good and works for the music, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. To me, it’s like playing a snare drum with hands. It can sound great but it’s not how the drum will be played most of the time.

[@Invert_Scrub]

@@RhythmNotes Great, thanks for the quick reply! As a brass player mainly, I've always wondered if this was just for projection. Many concert band pieces call for congas, and it's tough getting them loud enough over a large ensemble.

[@RhythmNotes]

Real Feel made conga mallets that sounded good. We used them for an indoor marching percussion show one year and they were heard over a large drum line.

[@jaybion]

@@Invert_Scrub My kid's choirs also always seem to call for congas on parts and the problem is that the choir teacher assumes that all you have to do is pull someone out of the choir to hit the rhythm. They don't appreciate the technique that goes into it.

[@davidavery5114]

Use LP congas with Comfort Curve rims!🙂

[@RhythmNotes]

I learned these techniques on traditional rims.

[@davidavery5114]

Ok!🙂

[@kidneyfailure666]

nice 🙂

[@unusualone2371]

What's the difference between a slap and tone? I thought that slaps were always closed, and tones were open, but I am a total newbie.

[@RhythmNotes]

You can play both open and closed slaps. If you play a slap and leave your hand on the head, it's closed because the head doesn't ring. An open slap is when you play a slap but immediately lift your hand and fingers off the drum head to let it ring a little. Check out this video for more explanation kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4CThGh6jtF_mJo

[@willfullaltruist6223]

Did you by any chance go to the scablands with Randal Carlsen?

[@RhythmNotes]

Nope. Not sure who or what that is.

[@rimshotdc]

Haahaa..Im number 300 👍❗

[@RhythmNotes]

✔️

[@memeindustries7956]

I keep seeing this, why is the center drum tilted away?

[@RhythmNotes]

Let's air out the bottom which lets more sound resonance escape, gives the drum a better tone and sustain.

[@jomarz1828]

I use a sound system like you'd use with another instruments to help me out....

[@RhythmNotes]

That's great! ... it's smart to use sound support whenever you can.