Wilson "Chembo" Corniel: Tuning Your Congas

In this lesson, renowned percussionist Wilson "Chembo" Corniel will teach you how to how to tune your congas. The video is an excerpt from the full-length DVD, An Introduction to Percussion. A bestseller in the LP library of instructional materials, it features pitch, and the four basic hits on conga. A must have for beginner players.

[@sugarman454]

I never knew there was so much work involved in playing las congas!! Thanks for educating us!!

[@deejannemeiurffnicht1791]

Sure! Hence academically trained percussionists, certainly in UK, MUST be at least grade 6 piano before any institution takes you on. Unless you're a ''natural'', of course. which is common enough, but may not have the confidence to pursue a career. Most of my congo/bongo heroes tend to be naturals, trained or, especially un-trained, who naturally sound as if they switch chords when the rest of the band does. Especially in classic hard r&b from the late 60's through early 70's.

[@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...😁

[@HUSTLEMAN2]

Ok I just now saw this! Thanx...I just learned something ....again! Conga players are all brothers!

[@ShaglusZ]

this guy is classic!

[@HUSTLEMAN2]

This is invaluable to me! I finally got my third Conga [ TUMBADORA ] THANX SIR! I've always worried that I was tuning them wrong,and according to your instruction...I WAS! THANK YOU! You're the man!!!!

[@giyentstepp]

YES. I think the intervals between the drums are 3rds or a major triad but not the C and G note coming out the pitch pipe; your ears are fine and you're not crazy. But his advice on tuning and saving the skin are useful. I like that part so I saved the video.

[@dahetman]

mate thank you so much as a new conga muso this has blessed me and heaps of others so much thank you again

[@annanicolenolina]

Great! Gracias! Thx for the amazing video, Maestro! 🤩👍

[@foreverakidbucci2192]

This is a great video! Thank you

[@Abiwrl]

This started it all for me. ¡Gracias maestro!

[@rjm0079]

Thanks for sharing . Pure knowledge!

[@dogwood8031]

I play guitar. I did a gig with Little River Band. I watched their drummer tune his his drums with a Peterson strobe tuner. Any tuner with a mic input will work. He put a drum on a lazy suzan so he could spin it around more easily. He used a Sennheiser 421 mic in a stand pointed down to the lug of the drum. He turned the drum to each lug on the drum and tuned it (use what ever note you want). Just tap the head nearest the lug you are tuning and match it with the tuner. It took about three minutes for each drum. To this day, I have never heard a better sounding set of drums. When the head is tuned at each lug, the entire drum will be perfectly in tune. Good luck.

[@UptempoMusicLessons]

Yup, absolutely the best way to tune drums.

[@HUSTLEMAN2]

Thank you sir!I went right out and bout the chromatic pitch,they should give you a cut! You are NOW MY TEACHER!!!!!! THANX

[@bobc.6672]

Just got my city congas and the wrench tool is very cheap, nothing like the one on your videos. What a chame.

[@deejannemeiurffnicht1791]

usually the tool that comes with any setup, tends to be just enough to get you startted. The rest, of course, is up to you.

[@widonaegele9465]

Muito Obregado! The best video since a long time!

[@georgemartinez3319]

Perfect tuning 🎶

[@cavemanlawyer5608]

Thanks bro! Happy jamming

[@deejannemeiurffnicht1791]

I'm experimenting with drumtune pro agter installing trial today. I love it's potential and content. However, once i get a basic reading for fundamental and lug, I don't know what then to do. It isn't at all clear. And, however, reading google play reviews i do notice that most do find rheir way around the device eventually. But for now I'm rather stuck at merely finding what my congaor bongos are currently tuned like. But haven'ta clue how ro achievetuning from there.. up or down.

[@ceviche666]

@LambdaLuv You would tune your conga every time you play it because you should loosen the skins ( untune it) after every session. If they're real hide and not synthetic, you want to preserve them by not keeping them in constant tension. If you don't loosen them you'll keep stretching em out more and more just to keep em tuned.

[@sherwin3]

G-C-E would normally be the combination. But the Second drum, or your conga, is normally up to your preference. in tune with your song of course.

[@lekeitown]

Muchas gracias compa!

[@guadalra]

Pretty good advice. Fair to say congas can be tuned to various notes,depends on how many drums. 2 drums ,Tumbadora G, conga C. 3 drums Major triads sound cool.Also G for the Tumba, conga Bb and Quinton at C

[@GrootsieTheDog]

Yes - G for the Tumba, conga Bb and Quinton at C - Those are the same intervals as "A Love Supreme" by Coltrane.

[@phatbackbeat6553]

Cosmo Spacemonkey I have Congas.., Tumba G Conga C Quinto Bb I have a second Tumba.., what key would you suggest ? a C an octave down ?

[@nhdyz]

The advice that was most helpful for me is to detune when you don't play

[@sherwin3]

For snare drums yes. But because some congas have odd-numbered tuning lugs, a different method is employed :)

[@bobc.8224]

how about the bongos, how do I tune the note.

[@PakLetMalangPercussion]

Good👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@berimboy]

Does anyone notice that when he plays the pitch pipe and then hits the conga, the conga is not in tune with that note at all! I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!

[@UptempoMusicLessons]

The pitch pipe is C, he tuned the first head to C# because as he says, it will drop a half step once it has been played a bit.

[@ONETU]

Yeah that and he can’t tell left from right. lol

[@jessd1952]

How much should I detunee while not in use?

[@Ponch341]

Two complete turns on each lug!

[@crunngren1930]

What octives are those notes in. Apologies if that's a dumb question just starting to learn about notes

[@veryljones3155]

What happened to the video?!??

[@bSNP1996]

I tuned one of my congas like a "quinto". could I tune that conga like a "conga"?

[@AFtERBIRtH33]

Very well communicated, thx

[@pacdrummer8]

i would have to agree with mod gyver, you could at least do a star pattern as long as you can keep track to help preserve the drum

[@joitopr]

which congas are those? i know they are lp but lp classics what?

[@nindyatsossosro7846]

what skins is Wilson using ?

[@mattyg303]

Sounds like he's actually got G-C-G there. Are those classics?

[@dadduorp]

Those conga tunings are not matching the pitch pipe 🧐

[@LambdaLuv]

If you practice every day should you tune and de tune every day?

[@nicedrumr09]

not mines !!!!

[@johnpepito6514]

At least it's tuned a fourth apart, or fifth depending on how you look at it

[@stevejeffries5403]

Tuning? :-)

[@JanBaars]

Haha, that conga that was supposed to be be C is a D!!!

[@ModGyver]

criss cross when tuning.he should know that if he's sponsor by LP..

[@davidrosado9642]

I played with a band using a tumba that was so out of tune that i had to press on thhe skin with fingers or palms to get the sounds! And only one tumba! Playing Santana! Never tried that shit again!

[@phatbackbeat6553]

I am a professional drummer and I’m learning the Conga.., I have tuned into 3 different video’s to tune them and have 3 different tunings ! 🙄 Can someone please tell me the “ STANDARD TUNING “ for a quinto, conga and tumba !?!? 🤷‍♂️

[@LPYT]

There is no "Standard". It's up to your taste and what is best for the song.

[@53xf]

Thank you Uncle LP, I was struggling with the same

[@antonyhequet1379]

@@53xf it also depends on the sound you like and the nature of the drum you have

[@thomasklidonas6639]

Sounds like a lot of work to bang on drums

[@normlor]

A GOOD VIDEO BUT MY GIOVANNI GALAXIES WILL NEVER BE TUNED TO A PITCH. UNLIKE GUITARS WHERE A STRING OUT OF TUNE IS A DISASTER, DRUMS FOR ME ARE MORE OF A FEEL THAN NOTES!!

[@lasmanos1]

Never tune your Congas around the lugs..Always tune your Congas by criss crossing as if you are drawing a star,other then that good info. Peace, "Las Manos"

[@samlempok]

aleto..