congaplace.com

Hi!!!
Is there anybody who can suggest me some jazz or latin-jazz rhythms? I already tried with a 6/8 tumbao, and it works quite well, but unfortunately it doesn't fits any situation. Thank you for your help!!!

In order to play latin or latin jazz rhythms you must learn a variety of "tumbaos" and styles before you can play that style properly. How long have you been playing?....JC JOHNNY CONGA...

I have been playing latin percussions for 2 years, but I'm also studying classical percussion and drumset. Can you suggest me which tumbaos and rhythms to use? ???
Thank you very much.

Take a look at the 'Congabook' section of this site - there are various tumbous there and countless other rhythms too.

Simon B

I can suggest at least one: Bomba works well for some Hip-Hop Jazz because of it's driving bass tones on the up-beats. And the slaps are on the off-beats, providing a funk aspect. One can easily adapt the conga and quinto patterns to a two drum pattern but usually either one works well by itself. I play the Dworsky Bomba:
1 2 3 4
Conga: B-T-T-S-B-O-O-T
Quinto: B-O-O-O-B-T-T-S

B=Bass, T=light touch, S=Slap, O=Open tone

These are some latin rhythms that each have their basic tumbao and variations. In your case, recommend learn the "basic" and then the variations. (Sorry, takes too long to do the "basic patterns". Some of the guys here could provide you the beats)

Guaguanco, son and son montuno or guajira (These are the "salsa" basic where everybody begins)
Plena
Sepia
Bomba
Changui
Songo
Merengue
Mozambique
Samba
Bossa Nova
Soca
Calypso

There's more I am forgetting....

Thank you very much, Raymond!!!
With these rhythms I have a lot of material to work on. Do you play congas or percussion in a jazz band?

Just to put my two cents in. In a Jazz or Latin Jazz band you use everything you have. For instance, whenever theirs a piece that your working on that doesn't need congas or bongos you can use shakers, maracas, guiro, shekere, tamborine etc. Just a long it flows with the piece your working with. I hope this helps!

Raymond wrote:These are some latin rhythms that each have their basic tumbao and variations. In your case, recommend learn the "basic" and then the variations. (Sorry, takes too long to do the "basic patterns". Some of the guys here could provide you the beats)

Guaguanco, son and son montuno or guajira (These are the "salsa" basic where everybody begins)
Plena
Sepia
Bomba
Changui
Songo
Merengue
Mozambique
Samba
Bossa Nova
Soca
Calypso

There's more I am forgetting....

Hi Raymond,
I don't know the rythm you called "sepia". Can you show it for us?
Thanks a lot!!!

This is a good idea, Ray Boogie, by the way, can anybody suggest me what to play in "Sing sing sing" and "take 5"? I don't think congas are good for these songs.

I've just found a version of Take 5 by Tito Puente, and the conguero plays a rhythm that I am not able to recognise. Is there anybody who knows which one it is? Thank you very much.

Occhio,
I'LL TAKE A STAB AT TAKE FIVE (SIMPLIFIED). TAKE YOUR BASIC TUMBAO ADD TWO HITS (ONE BEAT)
BASIC TUMBAO; H T S T H T O O
TAKE FIVE; H T S T H T B T O O
BASIC TUMBAO; L L R L L L R R
TAKE FIVE; L L R L L L R L R R
SIMPLE, BUT THIS SHOULD GET YOU STARTED QUICKLY. THINK OF THE SONG WHILE YOU MAKE THESE HITS AND IT SHOULD COME TOGEATHER QUICKLY.
BILL

You could make that Bass tone an open if it's easier for you. Think of the song, and your hands should fall right into place.
Bill

For those wondering, I do a little bit of percussion playing, most bongo and timbale, in some salsa bands. (Conga is not my strong but I could do the basic work. I am working on my depth in the instrument). Just local bands with cover songs...

What I called sepia is a variation of beats use by the conga in a "rumba" setting. (It has an African feel. Sepia is another name for black....). (Maybe they have another name for it but that's how I've heard calling it). Is a slower version and is used a lot in lots of salsa arrangements. (Popularized big in the 70s in Roberto Rohena's Traicion song in which he does a great bongo solo with sticks.... One of the latest use has been Marc Anthony's "Celos" in the beginning of the song after the trombones). Sometimes the bass emulates the "sepia" beat sound but sometimes the conga is by itself doing it or both are doing it at the same time. In rumbas, the conga is all by itself. Is considered one of the basic beats for rumbas.

My notation is not that good but here we go (and maybe my translation of the name of notes but here we go....)

Takes place in two bars (of 4 beats) and the conga repeats the two bars. (Use a lot for bongo solos). Clave is 3-2 (more confortable feel in the rumba version of 3-2).

FIRST BAR: Quarter Note, Open Hit in Tumbador, Quarter Note, Open Hit in Conga/Quinto, Eighth Note in the And of 3, Open Hit in Conga/Quinto, Silence in 4th beat, NEXT BAR: Quarter Note: Open Hit Tumbador. The next three beats, the conga could do some kind of improvisation of "short fill" or what I have seen most is is doing open hits in conga/quinto a quarter note, double eight note (with a slap in the last beat hear sometimes) and then, quarter note, and then starts again. I've seen also doing in the first bar/first beat people doing an open hit double eighth note in the tumbador to vary it a bit. (HOPEFULLY I HAVE IT RIGHT...IF NOT LET ME KNOW).

To add to my list of "tumbaos" there is also a "SWING" tumbao to accompany bebop jazz or swing music. Also, you have BOLERO which is the latin ballad.

In latin jazz you have to know every but every type of tumbao the conga does...

Saludos!



Edited By Raymond on April 28 2003 at 15:23

Thanks, Raymond...