Sitting vs. standing

[burke]

I've always preferred to play seated in the traditional Conga between legs tilted and tumba to the left position. I recently added 'feet and now just sit since the feet let the sound out just fine.

But lots of folks play with stands.

Sitting just feels right to me (more rooted).

Any thoughts?

ps.

Playing bongos on a stand just seems like pure evil to me!

[burke]

Really should read my posts better before I hit send - Tumba to the Right not left (I'm not a lefty)

[Mike]

I recently added 'feet and now just sit since the feet let the sound out just fine.

Burke, to me the rubberfeet which I also have are quite a hassle when repositioning the congas, but otherwise they let the sound out quite fine. BTW I use selfmade 1" plywood disks as a resonating plate which are much easier to handle when you sit down and arrange your setup.

As your post is not only about sound, but also about attitude: Yes, I prefer playing seated, too, especially with four drums. On the other hand, stands make it easier to switch between a timbales and conga setup, e.g. and you also can move about a bit - I´m not talking about dancing

I would not be so harsh when it comes to the bongo or conga stand in general. If it makes sense for the sake of the music - let it be IMO. The situation (space on stage for one percussionist only) might require a tight setup with stands.
On the other hand you´re right, bongos between the legs feels (and sound) like the real thing...



Edited By Mike on 1192805901

[hoofbeats]

I thought standing sounded like the better idea in my mind, but this forum seems to be pretty partial to sitting. Is standing a crazy thing, or is sitting just a lazy thing?

[Derbeno]

You intend to practice for an hour or two standing up??

Look around on youtube and you will see that the overwhelming majority of players are seated.

[Tonio]

Sitting: more sound nuances, more porwefull strokes.
Standing: more projection, better mobility

ME: My back is messed up so I can't sit for too long. The arm alignment with drums feels better sitting, and feels better playing in studio, recording practicing.
For live I prefer standing, for movement and comfort at large gigs with a full band. Small gigs and salsa/ folkorico I like sitting.

T

[burke]

Good point Derbeno,

I hadn't even thought about that aspect. Unless you are Donald Rumsfeld standing for hours for most of us gets tiring.

[blango]

Playing seated is the traditional way of playing, and the sound is closer to the old recordings. I think sound is everything, mostly... ??? Really, i cant think of the last time i enjoyed the sound of a specific conga that was on a stand. It may be the the better players, with the good equipment play on the ground.

playing seated also assists a player who needs different configurations throughout a gig. for example, i play rumba with an old 10.5" oak valje quinto with its thick skin and two Cedro 11 and 12", but son montuno with just the cedar drums, 11 and 12", with the 11 between the legs.

Seated, i can re-position the drums with a couple of twirls of the finger on the center of the skin, and im good to go. (by the way... anyone use that trick with both hands at once? - its slick!)

But, if one is playing a variety of percussion, its nice to be able to transition from conga to trap or to a table. Stands are nice for this, but ive seen cats like Babatunde Lea play traps with congas on the floor.

Cubans would not be caught dead playing rumba on stands, in these parts anyway.

Tony

[bongosnotbombs]

Most people I see standing are those guys that play open tones mostly on their congas, and then have bongos on a stand above and in front of the congas.

Nothing wrong with that really, though I prefer to play sitting; congas and bongos.

[bdrbongo]

When I played "world music"( for lack of a better term), I played standing so I could get around to different instruments, with my Cuban Jazz band I play sitting.

[vinnieL]

Seated for me. I feel like I have more control over positioning for my comfort and easy transitioning from one drum to the other.

[Whopbamboom]

For me, it all depends on the music I am accompanying. I experiement a lot in order to try to get just the right sound going. This includes my choice of instruments, and my choice of instruments does affect my choice of standing or sitting.

[hoofbeats]

well, sitting sounds like the more favored choice. Too bad I can't afford a throne after ordering the congas. If I buy a stand I could sit on my led zeppellin bar stool.
J/K Ill try it sitting. Ill have to improvise seating tho...

[burke]

Or you could take them off the stands and use a chair...they're pretty good for sitting I've heard

[yambu321]

FOR A MUSICIAN THAT IS STRICTLY A CONGERO OR BONGOCERO, SITTING IS USUALLY THE PREFERED METHOD BECAUSE IF YOU'LL REALLY THINK ABOUT IT, THERE'S NO NEED FOR STANDING, AND IT JUST FEELS TRUE, AND RIGHT. NOW, AS FOR THE BAND MUSICIAN, THAT IS A MULTI-INSTRUMENT AND PERCUSSIVE TOYS MAN, STANDING IS NOT ONLY THE WAY TO GO BUT THE SMART WAY TO GO. FOR MOBILITY, AND SHOWMANSHIP. IMAGINE THIS, GOING FROM THE SHEKERE, TO THE CONGAS, TO THE BONGOS, TO THE TIMBALES, CHIMES, RATTLER, CLAVES, COWBELL, AND SO ON, IT'S REALLY COOL FOR A SHOW. WITH THAT SAID THOUGH, I AM A TRADITIONALIST THAT MOSTLY PLAYS THE CONGAS, BONGOS, AND CAJON (SITTING). AND WHEN I DO PLAY TIMBALES, TIMBALES IS WHAT I'LL JUST PLAY(STANDING) . JUST MY WAY. IF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WITH ALL THE TOOLS, I WOULD MAKE A SHOW OUT OF IT ALL, WHILE STANDING.

A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT I AM SAYING, IS TINA TURNER'S MAIN MUSICIAN. MUSCULAR DUDE, WITH A PONY TAIL THAT PLAYS ALL THE TOYS AND MOST INSTRUMENTS. FROM SAX TO DRUMS, AND SO ON. HE MAKES A SHOW OUT OF IT, AWESOME!!!



Edited By yambu321 on 1200238075