SWEET SPOT ON A CONGA - Finding that perfect tone

[Thebreeze]

In speaking with a close friend of mine today we started talking about finding that sweet spot on a drum when you tune it. Each drum has it's own sweet spot. It's when you tune your drum until it reaches it's optimum tone and resonance. We did it on a Timba Tumba of his and it was so ovious when we reached it. So in order to have each drum in your set compliment each other, you have to take into account the quality and thickness of the skin on each drum itself which can alter the sweet spot. Another Variable in trying to get all your drums in tune with each other? I would welcome any comments from your guys experiences on this subject. I remember reading where some of you tune your drums to a certain key. Can you tell me if you have achieved that sweet spot as well?

[vinnieL]

There is definitely a sweet spot in tuning where each drum sounds it's best however the quality of the drum and it's skin will determine how broad a tuning range you have while maintaining optimal sound from your drum. My cousin has a set of cheap congas and while playing them I did some tuning and found the sweet spot on each one but trying to tune them so they worked well with each other was pure hell they just never sound good with each other! When I acheived a tuning that I felt worked one drum or the other would be dead or too ringy. I am no pro but this is what I have observed.

[Thebreeze]

That was a good response vinnieL. This is the kind of input I wanted to read and hope others will also contribute how they have dealt with it. Thanks very much.

[vinnieL]

Awesome I'm glad to offer some input.

[vinnieludovico]

I have Timba's .I love the drums, easy to find sweet spot! TRY E or Eflat for 13.5 F or G 12.5 Bflat-C 11.75 D-Eflat 11 quinto you can hear mine on you tube vincentludovico. I use two tumbas(13.5 +12.5 Eflat + G) two congas (Bflat+Dflat for marcha) and a11" quinto I( can't remember the pitch ) I am a drum set player all my life and started with Afro Cuban drums approx. 5yrs ago. It literally gave me new life! P.S. I hope the tuning thing helps.

[Derbeno]

I have Timba's .I love the drums, easy to find sweet spot! TRY E or Eflat for 13.5 F or G 12.5 Bflat-C 11.75 D-Eflat 11 quinto you can hear mine on you tube vincentludovico. I use two tumbas(13.5 +12.5 Eflat + G) two congas (Bflat+Dflat for marcha) and a11" quinto I( can't remember the pitch ) I am a drum set player all my life and started with Afro Cuban drums approx. 5yrs ago. It literally gave me new life! P.S. I hope the tuning thing helps.

You got some great stuff on youtube and fantastic sound from those Islas

[Thebreeze]

vinnieludovico...............Great stuff on youtube. Thanks very much for the info you chipped in. It is very valuable to me and I am sure to many others on this site. It sounds like the sweetspots on your Timbas are definitely in sync with the keys you have tuned them to.
Thanks again.

[bongosnotbombs]

where are you guys finding vinnies youtube stuff? I'd like to check it out, can you post a link?

[Thebreeze]

Bongosnotbombs..........just go to youtube, and in the search bar write in vincentludovico you will see qutie a few of his videos to chose from there.
Happy drumming.