When does skin break when tuning conga? - newbee tuning.

[iuyiuy]

Hi!
Everywhere I see tips for tuning congas but as a newbee the biggest question is, at what note is a skin likely to break? I´m so worried that they will crack. I like to have them tight, but is there a "maximum" note that you should not exceed for each conga in order not to jeopardize the skin? I mean for example tuning the conga to middle C and the quinto to an E above middle C seems normal, but how high above that can you push the conga and the quinto?

Grateful for all input! Chao!

[ABAKUA]

It all depends on what drums you have and what skins you are using.


The question u ask is like asking 'how long is a piece of string'.

More info is needed.

Skins will generally tear if not looked after, ie tuned up too high and left at that tension without being detuned after use, being exposed to heat or sun for extended periods of time, if the skins have any chiops of light scratches on them and are not looked after.
If the skins are of low quality or this they will also tear easily, far too many vairables to give a definate answer.

Cheers.

[iuyiuy]

Thanx for the answer, allthough once again a evasive ;)
The congas are Matador wood congas, with the skins that come with them when you buy them..
Also I´m worried about the creaking sound that the lugs make when you tune them..
But I guess its suppose to sound like that as the whole structure gets tenser. Its just that I´m new to congas and it sounds worrying.., but I know for example when I tune(or change strings on) my guitar there can be a lot of creaking and poping as the string "settles" in its place.. But on the congas it does sound scary :)

More input anyone?

[ABAKUA]

Ah yes, if the congas are new or skins are new, as you tune the lugs you will hear cracking sounds, usually loudish crisp ones. This is normal with new skins which have not sttled into the drums.
If that is it, then there is nothing to worry about.
Of course its always good to release the tension/untune the drum when not in use, helps the longevity of the skins.

[windhorse]

Congas are tuned in fourths for most folkloric tuning.
But of course, with modern or contemporary written music, you might be playing other intervals.

Do - Ray - me - Fa.

So, from one drum to the next, it's Do Fa.

The tension on the head should be even all around the lugs.
I usually check that by tapping about an inch or two away from the edge and listening to overtones while hitting lightly all around the drum, tightening and loosening until everything sounds the same all around the drum.

The cracking you're hearing can come from two places. One the nuts turning against the lugs can have a bit of tightness especially when they're new.
The other is the head stretching against the bearing edge of the drum. This is all good to some extent.. But careful not to stretch the head too much at once.

Abakua has mentioned detuning as if he does it each time he plays,, and I've heard of many who do this.. But, he's probably not taking off ALL the tension.. If you do this, when you tighten it back you'll hear little fuzzy buzzing, and that's the head that's lost it's seal against the bearing edge.

We keep them IN TUNE all the time. This way, they are much easier to play each day. The tuning only takes a few moments when the movement of the head is minimalized.
However, this is specific to our environment which doesn't change in moisture very much.



Edited By windhorse on 1114690915

[Firebrand]

when mounting a head for the first time, do very small turns all the way around. Unlike drum tuning (which often you tune "criss crossing" between the lugs), conga tuning can be done with turning peg after subsequent peg. Now...the crucial thing is to actually bring your (human) head down to Conga Rim level, and look at the head's horizontal positioning. If it's beginning to be crooked, you're bending one side more than the other, which will damage the head. So, with every turn around the conga, stop..and look at the head. Is there a side that seems more "tightened" than another. If so, rectify the situation by tightening the lug that will match that side to the other. Basically, keep the head horizontal throughout the entire circumference of the head's circle. For better measure, take a look at the lugs, and make sure they are roughly "tightened" the same.

For more checking, take a look on the top of the head, and play the head with a finger along the edge of the head, at the spots RIGHT ABOVE the lugs. This will allow you to compare the tone in comparison to the other spots around the head (on top of lugs). If one sound wildly flat or wildly sharp in comparison to others, either bring all the other ones to that level, or bring that one down to another desired level.

Bottom line - Keep the tuning of head level around the lugs, and pay attention to the shape of head (is one side being tightened more than another...is it horizontal). And, after all gigs (make the habit of detuning before going to shake hands and meeting people), always bring your heads down to the point where your QUinto sounds like a Conga, and a Conga sounds like a Tumba. Tumba's can usually be left alone, since they don't get tightened much (if you want to be paranoic about it, bring down the tumba a few turns around the drum). That will make the head last.

I learned this the hardway, when a mentor of mine showed me my conga and pointed out the "crooked edges" around the rim. He told me I wasn't evenly tuning the conga.



Edited By Firebrand on 1114695249

[Raymond]

Personally, although it could be said, I think there is no "technical way in the matter of notes or pitch" that you could use determine the skin of a conga (or bongo) could break...There are various factors and is just following common sense regarding your tuning, the quality of the heads, how good your tuning lugs and/or bolts, and last and not least, the wear of the head. Is all observation and discipline..

Rule of thumb to avoid having your heads break is to "tune even" and slowly and allow "settlement" of the head in the drum with the new tuning...Very important is to have the lugs in good shape and together with the nuts well lubricated... You have to do it that way because some the reasons that heads do not tuned even is "lug or bolts" problems...

Allow break in....You cannot tune a new head as much as an old head but sometimes it could be the other way around depending if the head already has "flaws" or wear...One of the wonders of natural or synthetic head is that they "expand" and with natural heads, the sound improves....that is break in and is achieve by "wear"...

My opinion!

Saludos!

[iuyiuy]

Thank you so much guys! I have learned a lot.. it seems ,as with all instruments, you can make it as simple or as complicated as you want. But I defenitely got the answers to my questions so thank you so much, and hopefully this can be a good starting page covering the basics for new comers..
Thanx, Chao for now!