congaplace.com

Posted: **Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:51 pm**

Hi all.... Been very much enjoying reading on the CB here for a few weeks, but I now have a question, so here goes...

I bought two pearl PC-900 conga stands, and set them up with my drums. I find that they feel too low for me at the highest allowable adjustment. Granted, I am a bit over 6', but have never had a problem playing on a double Gibralter stand. Anyway, is there a proper height at which to play a conga head? The height of these pearl stands put my forearms angled down a bit, and makes my wrists uncomfortable when playing. I figure this has allot to do with personal comfort, but I wonder if I am missing something.

Bottom line is that I'm considering returning the pearl stands for Meinl Steely II stands or equivalent, to try and get the heads a little higher. I see that Meinl offers an extension kit for the Steely II's, for "taller congueros."

Any thoughts or recommendations?

Posted: **Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:58 pm**

Hi SpEd,
being 6´4" I know exactly what you mean. Well, I´ve the MEINL Steely II stand for 2 congas, and they are very solid alright. The thing is, I think I also need the extension you mention because they feel too low and it affects my wrist position and posture in general. Didn´t know there is such a thing - thanks for the hint. I general I guess you should be able to stand straight and not slouched over the conga when you play standing.
That being said, I mostly play seated. I feel more powerful then.
BTW you have a nice avatar. I know the videoclip about the cowbell player

Mike

Edited By Mike on 1198004438

Posted: **Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:23 pm**

The technique most teach is to have the elbows just under the rim of the conga with arms hanging loosly at your sides. As opposed to looking like a chicken flapping his wings

Seat position is very important to proper technique.

Hope that helps,

Tony

Posted: **Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:26 pm**

SpEd, I was taught years ago that the elbow/arm should be at 90 degrees and the forearm should be as close to parallel to the floor as possible. Keeping that in mind, observe as many congueros (the really good ones) as possible and note their arm positions. Hope that helps. Buck

Posted: **Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:54 pm**

Try playing them on the floor the traditional way.

Posted: **Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:16 pm**

Thanx for the input folks....
If my forearms were horizontal to the head, I'd be right where I'm most comfortable. It just isn't gonna happen with these pearl stands, so they're headin back for an exchange for the Steely II's....

I know.... I know..... I do like playing on the floor as well, and I've been doing more of that lately.... gotcha Mike on the "MO POWER' concept. I just want stands for those certain occasions.

The extensions I referred to are actually called the "Steely II Conga Stand Expander Set". It comes in black, gold, or chrome. I did some searching, but could only find them for sale in the US on one website... $19.99
Explorers Drums and Percussion

BTW, when I hit the Meinl site today, a memorial page popped up...
Meinl founder, Roland Meinl passed away on 12-4-07, at the age of 78.
Meinl Percussion

Posted: **Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:46 pm**

bongosnotbombs wrote:Try playing them on the floor the traditional way.

bnb,

The reality is that the traditional way of playing congas on the floor is not always the preferred way, especially when congas are used in non-Latin music applications like I most often do. Just look at R&B bands, such as "Earth, Wind & Fire" (with whom percussionist David Romero sessioned with) and Stevie Wonder's backing band.

I still vividly remember proposing to my current blues/rock band, "blueZapple, when I first joined them early this year, to play the congas, bongos and Latin percussion toys seated. Needless to say that, for visual effects, my proposal got rejected. Somehow playing percussion standing seems to visually convey to the audience the image of greater energy.

From a practical point of view, too, playing the congas and bongos standing made more sense for me as I'm one of the band's vocalists and, shortly later, I added a pair of timbales to my percussion set.

Edited By umannyt on 1198021686

Posted: **Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:37 am**

I play seated and standing. Since I play sax, I need to stand to go back and forth between horn and congas.

Posted: **Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:28 pm**

Me too Congamyk,

How do you get around the problem of playing congas with a tenor around your neck?
In some quick change situations, I have dented the old MkVI.
Any suggestions?

suave

Posted: **Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:42 pm**

forearms in line with the head of the skin sounds a bit too high to me.

Tony

Posted: **Wed Dec 19, 2007 6:56 pm**

I agree Tony, I have fiddled around with the height over the years but have settled on having the top surface about 6" above my naval when sitting, but you can tilt the drum away from you to adjust edge hitting angle.
I guess it would need to be higher when standing, as you can't adjust the angle so well.

suave

Posted: **Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:54 pm**

Diceman wrote:Me too Congamyk,

How do you get around the problem of playing congas with a tenor around your neck?
In some quick change situations, I have dented the old MkVI.
Any suggestions?

suave

Say it ain't so!

I always take the horn off and place it on the sax stand after my solo. This is a hassle but it's essential, especially since I'm a big guy and there's no room between the congas and I. When I want to play the sax again I have it pick it up and attach it to the neck strap which I leave on all the time.

Edited By congamyk on 1198104933

Posted: **Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:39 pm**

congamyk wrote:I play seated and standing. Since I play sax, I need to stand to go back and forth between horn and congas.

Mike,

I've thought of doing this before myself--seated for congas, bongos & background vocals and standing up for timbales & main vocals. But, it's more ergonomic and, therefore, more efficient (but more tiring, of course) for me just to remain standing up during live gigs.

Besides, as I've already said, the rest of the bandmembers advised against my playing seated.

Edited By umannyt on 1198107597

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Head height while Standing?