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Hi guys,

Thanks 4 the help regarding skins in my earlier post, eventhough I am still confused. Maybe I should have been asking about 'heads' not 'skins'. Another time maybe! Anyway:-

1. When I slap I get a ring after the initial pop, this happens when my other hand is not on the conga. Is that right?

2. Generally the slap that I produce seems to be a lot higher in pitch to the ones that I hear on recordings, they seem to have a deeper tone to them. What can I do? Is it a tuning thing?

Thanx in advance - Kracker

Hi Kracker,
can you please clarify what do you mean with "I get a ring after the initial pop"... so I will try to give my opinion to you on that matter.

Ref to the second point I cannot think of any other reason than:
1. your recording system is crap :)
or
2. your slap technique has to be improved :(

When the right sound comes off the drum that goes on tape either!
The problem with slap tone has always been the awful lot of practice you need before achieving, with both hands!, a loud, sharp pitch ... there's nothing else to do rather than PRACTICING!
Tuning has to be done on "what you hear live" basis and not referring to what's on recordings...

Bye for now!

Hey CongaMan,

1. By ring I mean a high pitch note after the initial crack/pop.

2. My recording system is fine. The slaps that I hear on CD's seem to have a short sharp pop which are deeper in tone to mine.

What say you?

1. You do not know if the ringing sound on a recording is filtered or altered by recording technique
2. it depends on the material the body of the conga is made of; fiberglass congas ring more
3. it depends on the thickness of the drumhead; thicker heads are harder to play but give less overtones
4. it depends on your technique: a) you can muffle the head with your other hand b) you can play open or closed slaps. I have the impression most players do not know how to play both of them. With a closed slap your fingertips stay on the head for a fraction of a second and muffle the ringing; with an open slap you allow the hand to rebound off the head.

hi, i reckon you must improve your technique.
i know what you're experiencing.
i have the same.. and then my teacher plays a beautiful slap on the same drum as where i got a ringing sound of.
when you play, try to seek out a point you want to project your music on, preferably on the other side of the room.
then it should come out better.
you can also compare it to 'claying', pressing your fingers into the skin, like you're picking something up of off there.

...oooh baby, now I'm really confused. I see references to open slap, closed slap, and muff. Plus, the description above of open slap sounds exactly like open tone, to me. Are all four of these distinct (among the best players, at least)?

Bongo Boy here goes.....it is an overtone from the "open slap" on a "closed slap" you get more of the "pop" sound and that is ok. to rid of the overtone from the drum put an X configuration of tape on the under side of the skin. If that doesn't help then maybe u may have to put some tape on the inner walls of the drum, and also u may want to put a thicker skin on the drum,like Mule,if u can find some. Hope this cuts down on the confusion. Technique will come with practice,you can only get better on the drum with time put in. So relax, enjoy, and un-pa-kin! At your service...JC JOHNNY CONGA.........

Yes there are definate distinctions in relation to the "open slap"-"closed slap" "open tone" and "muff", but I will add one more the "bata slap" from the left hand at the "top center" of the head, with your last 3 fingers,pinky,ring,and middle. lest we forget the "palm" sound also,when you lift the drum from your ankles and "palm" the drum for a "bass" sound. The head is shaped in a circle denoting 360 degress, so you must approach it in that matter. In other words,there are many ways to approach the drum rhythmically and melodically, and physically. at your Service...Drummer for Peace....JC JOHNNY CONGA....

Thanks, Johnny. Just when I thought there was only a lifetime of learning on this 'simple' instrument, now I see I'm so wrong. It's clear to me now! It cannot be accomplished in a single lifetime. That's great--I don't have to worry about ever becoming an expert--it just can't happen! That actually simplifies matters--one has met one's match; I am assured of always being a beginner, and that's a good thing.

Theres also a slap which is played on the Atambaque (played in Copoeira), which is played into the center of the head, like playing tip in playing manoteo but slaping the three last fingers onto the head, but is played with the same movementy as the bata slap, you also have to press the fingers into the head and pull towards youre self (same as a normal slap). its very hard to explain.

Bongo Boy I've been "hitting it" for over 30 years and you never stop learning,and that goes for any instrument you take up. So don't worry about being an expert just enjoy the drum and allow it to take you where ever you want to go with it. Drummer for Peace At your Service...JC JOHNNY CONGA...

Back to the ringing sound...as I practice slaps more I now hear it as well. This is definitely NOT your typical overtone--it's much more of a pure, single tone (no harmonics), its very high, and sounds like either metal, glass or ceramic. It can be easily recreated by hitting the drum almost anywhere, but especially by smacking it a good one on the side of the shell.

It appears to be the natural resonance of the shell itself--as opposed to the air chamber within the shell--the shell's a bell, in other words.



Edited By Bongo Boy on Feb. 18 2002 at 03:05

Greetings to everyone, In my opinion Miguelito and Jonny conga are right. giovanni Hidalgo when playing always does the open and close slops. "Hands of Rhythm" with Michel camilo, is a good album.
Y pa la calle "alot of practice" : an exercise that worked for me is by slopping with both hands. 1 slop w/ your strong hand , hold it for a second then 2. slop with your weak hand, then you do the same thing b/ this time do not hold it let your hand go. each hand gets two slops a open and a close one. after a while you should hear it.