Conga Solo - 10 Tips For Developing Ideas

[@jimmiranda7181]

Best ever explanation and tutorial on putting together solo phrases. Everything you need to know about soloing is right here!

[@RhythmNotes]

I’m glad you found so much value in this lesson, Jim.

[@RumbleFish69]

I've really come to enjoy your channel. You are truly a gifted professional and I love that I can watch your channel and get some spark, or just get jazzed up just watching you play. Thanks!

[@RhythmNotes]

You are so welcome!

[@ralphflores4422]

Great tips, Thanks!

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cynthiahill3874]

This video was packed with ideas - and some musicology for me to follow up on! I'm an amateur and I was never given much information on solos, maybe because it was so intuitive for my teachers that they didn't know how to explain it. You are a very good teacher!

[@RhythmNotes]

I can relate. Most of my conga teachers played all of their lives and didn’t need to analyze the rhythms like some of us need to. Thanks for the kind words!

[@beverlynelson6431]

@@RhythmNotes= Cynthia, I, too am an amateur but making progress. My experience about learning how to develop solos is exactly like yours, and for the same reason. I will definitely return to Kevin Zanar's 10 tips on KZbin.

[@melfuentes4184]

Excellent presentation !! Thanks.. Your impressive and very interesting..

[@RhythmNotes]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@simsam8751]

Great examples and explanations, thank you very much!

[@RhythmNotes]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@diegofeliperod]

I really like how you explain and show every major step to develop a great conga solo! Great video Thanks!

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad you liked it!

[@celestesubieta8803]

Very cool!!

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks!

[@jibarito5279]

Great Tips and demos.

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks! I'm glad you got some value out of it.

[@lmckinney4303]

Great Video!!!

[@RhythmNotes]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@macfinster3]

beautiful!

[@RhythmNotes]

I’m glad you liked it.

[@MultiPelete]

Muy útil.Gracias

[@RhythmNotes]

De nada

[@richardbonomo5558]

Very very good. Ya know you here these masters play solos and I wonder, Omg , what’s going on ? What are they saying ? You my friend have made some sense of it all. For example,Mongo and Poncho play there solos so clean and melodically and that’s just to name a few. Rich

[@RhythmNotes]

Thanks Rich! ... and I totally agree about Mongo and Poncho.

[@marekkoziorowski2639]

Hello! Master, is there a chance for the second part of "7 Conga Patterns Played on Popular Hit Songs". Personally, I look forward to explaining the pattern for "Smooth Operator" Sade. I haven't found a pattern that would match the original recording. Is there a chance that you'll take on this challenge? Best regards and good health!

[@RhythmNotes]

I'm working on a list for a new video for popular hit songs. It's tough to make those videos now without copyright issues. So i may have to get creative. But I will try to include Smooth Operator.

[@RobDodge]

where can I get the great latin tracks that you play along with in your lesson.

[@RhythmNotes]

Those tracks are from epidemic sound.

[@PitoInheart]

Tq sir for the knowledge

[@RhythmNotes]

You’re welcome. I’m glad you found value in this lesson.

[@PitoInheart]

May you comment my video and tell me what I have to do to improve my stroke on congas? kzbin.info/www/bejne/baK7e6SZesSogJI

[@echilders4u]

How can I say thank you from the heart? In my father’s native tongue he would’ve said “ Ma doe!” All I can say is I will enjoy the many hours in my woodshed. YEAH!

[@RhythmNotes]

I'm glad you like it, Ernest! Be well. - Kevin

[@jpb93360]

Tip #6: Mike Spiro lick !! ;-)

[@RhythmNotes]

100 percent

[@froggyluv]

Whats the music you use in beginning ?

[@RhythmNotes]

"Por El Amor De La Danza" by Dylan Joseph via Epidemic Sound ... I added a link in the description.

[@froggyluv]

@@RhythmNotes thanks! Really enjoy your tutorials. For the first time i really felt myself start a decent solo after mirroring your technique

[@deweywise5573]

show how to cup hands correctly in video to help me learn pleasee

[@RhythmNotes]

This video explains how to play a slap and the technique difference between a slap and a tone. kzbin.info/www/bejne/anOqloqLmah3brs I don't recommend thinking about it like cupping your hand. It's simpler than that.

[@Arysalserooficial]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🇧🇷

[@RhythmNotes]

Thank you. And thanks for watching.

[@bnieves100]

Your mispronouncing the name of this Instrument it’s Conga Cone ga not Kong ga

[@RhythmNotes]

Arguably it's not even the name of the instrument. ... it's a tumbadora, in particular it's segundo.

[@richardbonomo5558]

Hello Kevin, I love your solo instruction . Beautiful creative ideas . You mentioned that one can come in hot and then back off , feel and create . How do I come back in ? On the one count ? What are your thoughts on avoiding doing too much only never to return on time musically ? Thanks so much Rich 🪘🪘

[@RhythmNotes]

Unfortunately, I've played plenty of solos during which I never came back in on time or musically. I aim to always play in time and musically. The time stretching stuff is tough. One thing that has help is an exercise that moves from 8ths to triplet 8ths to 16ths to 5s, 6s, 7s, and 32nd notes. Basically, I set the metronome to a slow comfortable tempo and play four counts (clicks on the met) for each subdivision of the count. This helps train your hands to find the downbeat and be aware of the count cycle (4/4, for example). ... Hope this helps!

[@richardbonomo5558]

Hello Again Kevin, Thank you for your reply . Your advice is going to help tremendously . Now I have lesson plan to present to my drum teacher . I’m a double winner . I’m in my 5 th year of periodic drum lessons on the set . It really helps me a lot when I play congas with other drummers . God bless. Rich