How To Tune a Set of Congas

[@claytonathon9265]

Coming from Bass & Guitar to Congas, this theory discussion is very helpful with getting the most out of my sound. Thx!

[@Floridafisherman5000]

Same with me, guitar and bassist and now getting very much into conga and percussion instruments! :)

[@chrispantazi81]

Great Tutorial, becoming proficient in tuning and having a basic understanding of intervals is SO CRUCIAL!!! To help the drums cut and have a bright articulate sound I like to tune my drums about 25 cents sharp (this also depends on the humidity and temperature). Anyway, love your videos, you are truly a seasoned world class musician. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

[@bongodoctor2014]

I have been working with Bram over the last week or two helping him to test and fine tune the new Bongo and Conga modes and he has done an amazing job. Drumtune Pro can now correctly detect the pitches of all sizes of conga and bongos and comes with a useful recommended tuning range guide. This is a real game-changer for me as a percussionist as I can now tune to specific notes and reproduce the same tunings each time. I imagine the best players in the world can do this by ear to a piano, but for the rest of us mortals this app opens the doors to congas and bongos that sound professionally tuned. every time... I tune my Congas and Bongos as follows: Tumba D3 Conga G3 Conga Bb3 Quinto C4 Quinto D4 Hembra D4 Macho F5 There is a brilliant guide to the tunings used by some professional players starting on page 31 of this research paper: The Conga drum : development, technique, styles, improvisations and the contribution of master drummer Ramon 'Mongo' Santamaria If you want any tips or suggestions on tuning your Congas and Bongos get in touch...😁

[@gregdrummer7912]

I recently purchased Drumtune Pro and as far as I can tell there is nothing remotely related to conga or bongo tuning. Only standard drum kit.

[@bongodoctor2014]

@@gregdrummer7912 Hi Gregg, the latest version v2122 and up have both conga and bongo tunings - if you have an older version you should update it from the play store...

[@gregdrummer7912]

@@bongodoctor2014 The version offered in APP Store is 2.0.23. How and where is v2122 available?

[@bongodoctor2014]

@@gregdrummer7912 Hi I am using Android and in the play store we are now on version v2128 - I don't have an iPhone do I don't know what version they are on there. It is possible that the conga and bongo modes are not in the app store yet as they literally only released to the public in the last 48hrs. I also know that the frequency detection is not as wide in iPhones as it is on Android - so bongos may be too high pitched to be detected accurately on iOS. However I am not one of the developers so it would be best to contact them directly through the app store? It may also depend on what type of iPhone you are using...

[@gregdrummer7912]

@@bongodoctor2014 Thanks very much for the quick and informative response. I used the iOS version to tune my congas to a 4th apart using the standard drum tuner and am working on the bongos. My bongos are skinned with horse and steer skins from Manito Percussion and I am experimenting a bit with the tuning range capability of the heads. The congas are gon bops with original heads and they seemed to zero right in to where I wanted-tumba @G3 and conga @C4. I have an email message in to the folks at Drumtuner Pro and am waiting for their response.

[@michaelcamacho4856]

Thank you for this vid. What is the name of the groove you play in the beginning?

[@wendyboyd2355]

Just bought a set of 3 Been playing them in our Band

[@soniavega7318]

Hi! How I know what kind of drums I have? One measures 11 and other 12 inches. They are conga and tumbadora or quinto and conga?

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

Usually a Conga measures 11.3/4" and the Tumba 12 1/2" (Quintos are often 10 1/2") So - You could have either set.

[@bongodoctor2014]

I would say you have a Quinto and a Conga

[@brucecollis8609]

I have leather wrench bags on each drum and several 1/2 inch wrenches in my car. :D

[@miroslavtabyashki]

Great, Maestro

[@crunngren1930]

What octives are those notes in I have three congas and am just starting to learn about notes and tuning

[@doaparviz6430]

Thanks

[@bigchungus2667]

Can i do this on fiberskyn?

[@oldmanofcotati]

Great video for me.

[@Floridafisherman5000]

I hope some day to be a 1/4 as good as you are!! :)

[@brentbreault7606]

Quick question: would a 10” and an 11” be a quinto and a conga? What would the names be?

[@darrenglass2930]

Typically a Conga is around 11&3/4 inches in diameter, a Quinto is 11 inches, and requinto is 10 inches in diameter. Not that you asked, but a Tumba is 12 1/2 inches and a super tumba over 13 inches.

[@brentbreault7606]

Darren Glass So I guess it’s an atypical pairing then

[@darrenglass2930]

Not always. Those were the sizes of my first set (10 and 11) about 20 years ago. You can still make ‘em sing with the right technique and tuning. Quintos are typically featured (solo) drums so you have to be careful not to tune them too high or they will over power the other instruments.

[@brentbreault7606]

Darren Glass What do you recommend for tuning? Right now I tune the low drum to A3 and the high drum to D4.

[@darrenglass2930]

Brent Breault Honestly, if you like the way that sounds and it makes sense for who and what you are playing with, then just continue to enjoy it. I’ve seen C4 as a standard for quinto with some players. That said, in your case, if you want to mix it up, I would say C4 for the requinto and G below C4 for the quinto. If you get a conga then move the conga to G and the quinto to C4.

[@MDGsoccer1701]

Hey Kalani! Thank you for the videos, maestro. I'm curious, what drums are you playing in this video? They are beautiful and sound great as well.

[@funkytomtom]

Skin on Skin. There are some other videos on these specific drums.

[@tanmoybanerjee4922]

Exactly what I was Searching for. Thank U Kalani Sir! I understood what U explained to some extent. But I would request You if can explain a bit more on Harmonics. Terminologies like "C", "#", "A", Major, Minor. And how to determine whether it is A or C or E or B. Whether there is any reference to compare and determine the same. I know that it wont be easy for U to explain and wont be easy for Us to understand without having knowledge on Harmonics. But still.....!

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

I don't mind answering your questions. What is your question exactly?

[@tanmoybanerjee4922]

Das Sir, I want to understand what is "A", "B", "C", Major, Minor? Do I have to have knowledge in Guitar/String Instrument to understand that?

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

@@tanmoybanerjee4922 Notes names, such as A,B,C, are referring to the names of specific pitches. # and b (Sharp and Flat) are modifiers that get applied to notes to raise or lower them by one half-step. "Major" refers to the interval of between the root and third of a chord (a set of three pitches separated by thirds). A third is three scale degrees and can be "Major" or "Minor." Major is a half-step higher than minor. For more on Music Theory, just to a simple search. There are many videos and websites that talk about all these terms. Good luck!

[@tanmoybanerjee4922]

Thank U Sir!!

[@TheAtheistworld]

Does this amateur not recognize fourth from a fifth??