Conga heads - Where do I start....?

[trickyricky]

Hi brothers and sisters!
This is my first post. I haven't been playing very long but I have been able to sit in with a local "funk" band and it went very well. I learned from Dancing Hands video, and Richie Gajate-Garcia's basics book and cd. I have three Aspires...quinto, conga, and tumba. Please stop moaning :laugh: I am too cheap to buy something more expensive until I know that I will be playing locally more than I am now. The other night we opened for another band, and I loaned the headliner band my congas. The conguero used sticks. My little LP heads are all scarred up. Doesn't seem like there is any real damage, just white scars. They still seem to sound okay. Even before the scarring, I have had a very hard time tuning the congas. Should I replace the heads?
Peace,
trickyricky

[JohnnyConga]

First lesson...DON'T LET ANYBODY HIT YOUR DRUMS WITH STICKS!.....
Second lesson.....make sure the guy knows how to play a conga drum
Third lesson.....know the difference of music to know when to use or how to use a stick on a conga ex....for a bembe sometimes a stick(one), on drum is used..and it's in 6/8 time...
Fourth lesson....know that new skins will cost around 80 bucks for 2 plus shipping.
Fifth lesson....save money for better congas...
WELCOME TO THE CONGAFORUM/CLUB!...... "JC" Johnny Conga....ps ..look at my right hand in this photo, this is "Bembe Ochun" I use one stick for this "dance rhythm" on the tumba drum... :;):

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... edited.jpg

[trickyricky]

Thanks for the "lessons" JC. I learned lesson number one that night. My only excuse is he was supposed to know what he was doing. I found out that he uses sticks to "save his hands". I should have looked at his drums before I let him use mine.:blush: I am saving my pennys.

[Charangaman]

Greetings trickyricky and welcome to the forum.. Anyone whom wishes to "save their hands" by using sticks is no Conguero..

As JC mentioned there are some specific applications of sticks on hand drums but these are rare..

[ralph]

I remember a rumba on 110st in El Barrio a couple of years ago, and saw some guy play cascara on the side of a drum, and not only that he was using some heavy claves, he was playing the cascara hard, guys were telling him to stop already...this is not uncommon...although thinner drum sticks are usually used...i don't care how cheap your drums are, if you don't personally know the person or know of the person i would be wary in lending even my cheapest drum...just on principle...sticks are used in many afrocuban rhythms and brazilian rhythms, even other latin america and african rhythms but then even these should be executed with the "know how", not because some clown wants to save his hands
JC can attest...he knows...

tricky ricky don't stress it though its all part of the learning process...take care of your axe....



Edited By ralph on 1132673346

[captainquinto]

Hey trickyricky ... welcome to the forum! I believe we biked through your town of Paonia
once leaving out of Crested Butte, nice place.

I can see it now - he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out two beefy snare drum sticks.
Next scene ... flying through the air, arms reaching forward, NOOOOOOOO!!

Seriously though, as far as the heads go, a little TLC might go a long way. Some mild soap and water
followed by 3 or 4 drops of olive oil rubbed on your hands first and massaged into the skins.
Release all the tension on them and try to keep warm - maybe a sunny window?

If all else fails - some nice hand-picked skins for your Aspires might be nice, too! Best of luck to you and let
us know how it turns out.

[akdom]

Hi everyone

This scene seems familiar to me. In the very wide percussion world, there is an unfortunately low rate of percussionists.

One advice you already got is to NEVER lend your drums. If you play on stage and your congas are already set, just clarify things at first so that the next band on stage just don't use them. Remove them after the last set or set them aside somewhere in a corner of the stage. To prevent people from using them anyway, use cover, people might think twice before removing them and grabbing the drums.

I don't think that you need to replace the skins if they are not seriously damaged and if they still sound OK.
Save the money to buy better drums.

Percussions are no toys and are no "cool" objects. They come from a long historical background and deserve a whole lot of respect (even cheap, old ones) !

You obviously know that but a lot of drummer wannabes don't especially if the drums are not theirs.

If you play congas you need your hands to play them! As mentionned already sticks are used very rarely and for a reason.

You are lucky that congas are naturally tough... imagine this with a djembe or a derbouka!

Anyway, as you said, you learnt the first lesson....

You will learn and share more in this great forum. So welcome and enjoy the great feeling of this place.

See ya

PS: Dn't forget to visit plapata.com the press kit of my future website.

[trickyricky]

Hello everybody!!
Thank you all for your replies and the warm welcomes. You are truly the wonderful very helpful folks I thought you might be. Don't worry, I have learned this first lesson well. And I am familiar with the "proper" use of sticks with the drums. As akdom has pointed out, I have also noticed that when gigging, if you have your drums sitting where the audience can reach them, folks just love to try them out....without asking. I had to kind of stand guard over them last time. Even my lady was upset.

Anyway, I have another question for you.
Captain Quinto mentioned olive oil. What about lanolin? I have heard that lanolin is good for the skins, and applied some the very next day after "stick-zilla" beat them up. It suuuure does stink. What cha think? Lanolin or no?

Peace....soon.

[captainquinto]

Hey drum brother!

There has been a lot of discussion on this topic in the past - some good info and debate. Type "lanolin",
"manteca" and "palm oil" into the search bar for many threads!

Seems like the oils / manteca (lard) are more popular than lanolin.

Happy archiving!!

Cap'n Q

[Isaac]

Manteca de Corojo is Red Palm Seed Oil,
Not the kind for cooking or "lard".
ANy of the oils applied should be used in moderation.
Too much and you'll also deaden the skin.

~ ISAAC ~

[akdom]

Hi there

Any oil is actually OK.

I use a product called propylacticare which is a water based oily product from my wife. It is very light and a few drops are enough to moisten your hands and the skins at the same time.

Karite butter is good too but don't use too much. Of course olive oil is great but the smell might be a problem for some. And last, the world famous baby oil is one of the best products ou can find: gentle, cheap and very efficient.

Have fun

[rumbaman]

Hey how are you all doing , my blessings to all . I will tell you my instructor uses sticks when playing one hand on the congas and the other hand with the sticks to accent on the timbales ,the bongos and the drum set , we call him the octopus b'cause it is amazing to watch him , but he is a pro who has taught guys like Horacio " El Negro " so he is capable of doing this and sounding great . I do not like to hit my congas especaily on the sides with sticks ,although it is a common practice.

I also would not put any creams or lotions on my drums , had a bad experience with my bongos , it ruined the skins dulled them out .

rumbaman