congaplace.com

I've been a drummer all of my life but never Latin drumming.

I saw an inexpensive set of bongos at a local store and purchased them. I soon found out that there is more to bongos than just hitting them. Many complex sounds to enjoy. So I went on line for some lessons. Wow, wake up call...a lot to learn.

I also noticed my cheap bongos needed replaced fast. After doing some research, I took them back and I got a set of LP Matadors 201 (the ones with the cast aluminum bottoms). I understand they are excellent mid-level bongos. Since I never played bongos before I have nothing to compare them to except videos on the www and they sound good to me.

I understand there is a break in period ? I also bought some Almond oil and rubbed a little into the heads.

I'm working on some of the rhythms and techniques I've found on you tube. Some of them seem like excellent instructors and some don't. Can you recommend any on line lessons ?

I found this site from someone on Pearl Drummers Forum. He recommended it to me. Thanks bud...

Any advice for care of the bongos and any advice for playing is appreciated.

Hello and welcome to the Beautiful world of Latin Percussion.

Here is a great video from a great percussionist he has many many videos is his channel for Bongos, Congas, Cajon and Maracas.
He teaches in Spanish I hope that is not a problem for you, just follow the sounds and hand gestures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWJm63by ... re=channel


DJBakan

The Bongo Book by Trevor Salloum is a good place to start.

Thanks guys. This is a nice site, I've done a little searching through the threads. Glad to be here.

Hawk, welcome to this forum!

It's an addiction, but healthy and learning one!
I can feel your enthusiasm!

PimpS

Hi Hawk.
First about your bongo. The matador is a good drum, but the skins are not. If LP handpickds are still made from cow, those would be a great improvement. With Remo skyndeep you would have a drum of professional quality. But your Matador is good enough to practice on as it is, so take your time finding something that suits your style of playing.
That brings me to the second point. You play the drumset, so you already have a playing style, and an idea of what you want to do with your bongos. There is one very good player who can play in any style, David Romero. He has a demo video on Youtube where he also demonstrates more modern playing styles. If one should want to go in at the DEEP end of afrocuban playing, three of the great masters are Jose Mangual, Mongo Santamaria and Armando Peraza. You will also find lots of useful stuff on Youtube with Dandy Rodriguez and to many fine players to mention.
cat

Saludos Hawk, bienvenido to the forum. Matadors are excellent Bongos once you install a set of better skins. IHMO do not go with sinthetics been remo,evans or whatever, they do not reproduce the true sound . You may contact L & H percussion, he will provide you with a good set of skin been cow,mule,calf or goat. He also has them in combinations.

What can I say ? Thanks again to everyone !

I'm playing (practicing) every day...

Interesting!
Just yesterday i talked to my friend who bought matador bongos and he got so good skins with them, that he is taking his bongos to house parties instead of congas. He said that even other percussionists come to him during sound checks, cause his bongos sound great. It's about luck i guess. Matador bongos as I know them, are great, matador fiberglass congas also. Intermediate serie, but to me sounds professional...

my 2 cents, Keep on grooving Hawk!

PimpS

A friend and I put my Matadors next to his LPs (Generation IIs I think) and could not see any visual difference between the two of them other than the number of grooves that are cut into them. We looked and could not see anything different, side by side, other than his skins were better.

I think Matadors (generation 1) are cilindrical shape not kind of tapered like Gen II.

Questions, Questions, Questions ? You guys have been very cool ! Where do I go to ask stupid questions ?

Because I am SO new to bongos, I don't want to ask questions that have likely been covered over and over on this site. In fact I'm so new, I don't even know what questions I should be asking.

I need help with the terminology used for playing. Is there a list of terms with a description of what they mean somewhere ?

I've read opinions on various types of skins for bongos. Is there a visual way to tell them apart? On my Matadors, the description simply says "rawhide", which doesn't tell me anything. I'm wondering what skins I actually have ?


http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend ... sku=440686 Just says "rawhide".

If you wanted to explain something you think is important to a new bongocero, what would it be ?

Thanks again...

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

caballoballo wrote:I think Matadors (generation 1) are cilindrical shape not kind of tapered like Gen II.

We looked at that as well and other than measuring it they looked same same.

Meanwhile let the new dude play his drums and learn on them. He'll be just fine if he doesn't run out and change his skins immediately this very second. Stock Matadors are just fine. Sometime down the road of course, but it's certainly not on the top of the list as far as becoming proficient on the drums. I would put finding a teacher or spending hours listening to great bongoceros before that. Not to mention the three Ps.

welcome aboard, whatever you do, stay clear of those expert village lessons on youtube, they are laughable