How to play open and closed slaps on congas

[@loiswilcken1758]

Thank you! This is the best description of the slap that I've seen.

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

Thank you, Lois! I wish you good luck with the different slaps!

[@loiswilcken1758]

@@MichaeldeMiranda It's been a long time since I studied the drum, but I was lucky to study with a great master drummer from Haiti. He passed away ten years ago, and I'm now writing his biography. He always insisted that the drum is a piano, capable of a wide range of tone. It's not only about rhythm. So I want to bring that into the book. I can't question him now about his recordings, so I've been looking into tonal information on the internet. This video has been a big help. He did the slap the same way you described it, both variations. I'll look at more of what you have.

[@dadduorp]

After watching about a dozen videos on conga technique and lessons, this is the FIRST one that explains it in a way that allowed me to play a successful "slap"! Thank you!!

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

+dadduorp Thank you and I wish you good luck with the slaps!

[@twli]

Well done, thank you

[@MichaelLupescu]

Thanks for sharing this. There are so many videos on slaps (all good), but I think this might be the simplest and clearest!

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

Thank you, Michael. Slaps are the most difficult technique, so I wish you good luck with it!

[@kristinasanchez9650]

Thank you for being so clear on your explanation :) greetings from México

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

Thank you, Kristina! I hope you can use it!

[@sylvainvanier1953]

Although if I do not need training, I love watching your videos. Good technique, simple videos, expertly explained!

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

Thank you very much, Sylvain!

[@Old_Man_Medina_Gaming]

Thanks for this series; the heel touching the bearing edge was the missing piece for me nailing the closed slap, thank you ~

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

Thank you Alan! I wish you good luck with the rhythms!!

[@Jan-ke4wq]

Thank you Michael, you explained that very well and also gave me a lot of encouragement in relation to the progress to be expected. I subscribed to you right away. Not only are you good at playing conga, you are also good at imparting your knowledge. Thanks!

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

Thank you very much! I hope you will enjoy my videos!

[@drollroll]

Thank you Michael. Your tutorials are excellent.

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

+drollroll Thank you!

[@stevekimball7697]

Yes great!!

[@nithitdolorfino9010]

Hi Michael, I'm Nick. I'm a drummer and percussionist. Thank you for this excellent tutorial!

[@ConxurOz27]

Thanks for my request Michale! You are the best! Thank you so much.

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

+ConxurOz You're welcome! You had to wait a little bit but I hope you can use the information. Good luck!

[@A_Auad]

Thanks for your class!

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

You're welcome! I'm glad you liked the lesson.

[@alfredoqv2189]

I'm so happy with this video!!! In Perú is so difficult to get the "secrets of the slap" because many "Grandes Maestros" think that by revealing all the secrets, the student can overcome them. Thank you so much for sharing with humility (perdón por el inglés pero como decia Lavoe: Yo no speaking mucho english, pero igual le meto mano !)

[@TheBassHeavy]

I got a conga today. This is really helpful, thank you!

[@ronrobbins2737]

Actually Michael, it CAN be beneficial to focus on the hand-heel striking the rim first, especially for beginners. Once they get used to the proper drum-height and angle needed to strike hand-heel to rim, then they can start to add the rest of the motion which entails the relaxed loose rest of the hand whipping down at increased speed to create the higher slap-frequency.

[@DanielSerra1]

Thanks very much Michael!

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

+Daniel Serra You're welcome, Daniel!

[@KTBWorld]

Closed slap: 0:15 Open slap: 2:46

[@TheCencerro]

Elegante explicacion...................... gracias Maestro..

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

+TheCencerro De nada y muchas gracias!!

[@MattMusicianX]

Gracias, Michael! Muchos de tu videos me ayudan mucho!

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

+Matt "Musician X" Falter De nada, Matt y muchas gracias!!

[@fsl001]

Yet again another great video.

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

+Dj Mr Cool Thanks!!

[@fsl001]

+Michael de Miranda if you give lessons I will come over and make a short break out of it

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

+Dj Mr Cool I don't give that many lessons anymore.... Where do you live? Perhaps when I am in your neighborhood I can visit you.

[@macschomo]

You forgot the brazilian slap which is a closed slap in the middle of the drum, and the open slap with a muffled left hand, which is the best best for fast tumbaos and at least the puertorican slap, which is very dry and is played at the rim of the conga. I have to make a video about this. Greets Schomo

[@peterostertag8699]

Thank you very much! The clip helped me a lot, when I - usually playing congas - had to play the timba in the samba group. With your advice I succeded in playing open slap rolls on the timba in 3 weeks! And now I use them on the conga as well.

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

Well, that is great! I'm glad that my video is useful for you. Good luck!!

[@SAHBfan]

Another great vid - I hope this is the first of a new series on the Conga? :)

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

+SAHBfan I will start making new video's. I was very busy writing a book about Bloco Afro....

[@richardstorres1157]

+Michael de Miranda muchas gracias me ayudad muchos des videos

[@SAHBfan]

+Michael de Miranda Good news you are coming back to making vids again, I will look forward to them :)

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

+Richards Torres De nada y muchas gracias!!

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

+SAHBfan Thank you!

[@francescoacri3721]

ciao Michael,good work. Van se buy this book?

[@MichaeldeMiranda]

+Francesco Acri It will take a few months before it is out, but I will keep you posted about the Bloco Afro book.

[@francescoacri3721]

ok,thank you.I wait......ciao

[@hectormontenegro7333]

Este golpe debiò haber tenido un nombre que NO era "slap " que està en inglès .¿ Alguien que deveras estè versado en estas lides nos lo podrìa decir ?

[@federicofigueroa538]

En español se le dice "tapado"... tapado abierto y tapado cerrado

[@brocongonigga3690]

Tapado quemado galleta