Drums are one of the world’s most versatile musical instruments, available in dozens of different varieties, each with its own sound. One of my favorites that always makes me smile is the conga. The conga drum, which is also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum which comes from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and are classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest). They were originally made from hollowed out logs or recycled barrels. Conga drums are traditionally used in Afro-Cuban genres such as conga and rumba and are now very common in many other forms of Latin music. I remember in the 80s when I first heard Sheila E playing drums including the congas.
According to PercussionConga.com the correct pronunciation is CONE-gah, not changa or koonga.
Josh at Percussion Instruments HQ agrees and has a fantastic article describing how conga drums are made. Be sure to check it out.
Conga drums are usually played in sets of two or four with the fingers and palms of the hand. You can play either while seated or standing though the taller drums sort of require one to stand which is a little cooler in my book.
Conga players are called congueros. The term “conga” was popularized in the 1950s when Desi Arnaz played a role in the popularization of conga drums. However, the drum he played, which everyone called a conga drum at the time, was similar to the type of drum known as bokú used in his hometown of Santiago de Cuba.
Sheila E playing the conga drums with Pete Escoveo on percussion.
Since conga drums can be tuned to different notes, a drummer with a set of congas can create entire songs with percussion alone as Sheila E and Desi Arnaz and many others have done. These “congueros” use various hand motions and striking positions on the head of each conga drum to produce different sounds. It may sound complicated but is actually quite simple if you just start with the basics. To take full advantage of the conga drum, start by mastering the five basic strokes. Two of these involve hitting with four fingers near the drum’s edge: a quick tap produces a clear “open tone”, while holding your fingers in place to muffle the sound creates a “muffled” or “mute tone”. To make the “bass tone”, use your full palm, while the “touch tone” is produced with a light tap of the fingers or heel of your hand. As you improve you can take on the “slap tone”, which generates a loud, snappy sound. Very cool.
Conga drums can come in various sizes and styles. They can range from plain wood to beautiful paint jobs such as-
If you would like to learn more about the conga drum, there is a very good article here.
Thanks to the diversity or the style of play and the appearance of the congas and the upbeat tempo they generally produce, the conga drum always makes me smile.
Have you ever played the conga drums? Click here to leave a comment and share your opinion and experience. Would love to hear from you.
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