Muffling Bongos - For Silent Practice

[DanielTulip]

How would one go about that???

Thanks in advance!

[ralph]

well...i've had to make concessions at times and try to muffle congas...i put a towel over the conga heads...you can still here the sound a little...this may or may not work for bongoes....

i actually learned this from hearing stories about Florencio Baro, who while staying in a miami hotel, he would put a towel over his congas as to not disturb other guests....

Ralph

[DanielTulip]

:cool: Thanks I'll definatly try that!

After posting this topic I decided to google "drum muffling" instead of the more specific "bongo muffling" and came across the idea of stuffing a towel inside a bass drum to muffle it. I figure I might try that as well, considering that the bottoms of the bongos are open.

[Smejmoon]

I used to mute djembe: stuffing in one towel, covering with another. Thatwise I could learn rythms.

Congas I do not mute. I play them lightly. They are not that dynamic as djembe. Also bongos could be played quitely.

[korman]

Well, I take two t-shirts and tuck one in macho and one in hembra. If the cloth is tucked all the way up to the skin, it's very quiet but if you leave a little air between the skin and cloth it's a bit louder.

[boogie]

put on some mittens..works very well and you can still hear yourself

[maelopr]

I usually use a towel covering the drums like Ralph stated...but I have to say I will try Koran's T-shirt method. I like the idea of hitting the actual skin, keep callouses in check..