Can a beginner start with a single conga?

[JohnnyConga]

Please go to my videos 17 of them on youtube.com type in search How to Play the Conga drum...IMHO I would start with the middle drum . The quinto has a whole different role ...."JC" johnny Conga

[congamyk]

The way quintos are made by the major brands - they aren't that small.
The difference between an LP-Meinl-Pearl-Remo-etc quinto and the conga size is not that big a deal to me.

I agree that a conga is preferable to start. It's larger for the hands and the obvious next drum to add would be a tumba.
However there is one slight advantage for starting on quinto.
An 11" drum is much easier to develop a slap on than a larger drum.
So to facilitate learning a good slap (which is undoubtedly the hardest stroke) - the 11" quinto is not a bad choice.

You can always add a conga later, then tumba - and it's all about tuning anyway.
I've heard congas tuned low and can thump & bumps hard like a tumba.

I also agree with what someone said earlier about not buying a Meinl Headliner.
They are too small and sound poor.
If you are going to start with one drum - spend a little more and get a drum that will grow with you.
The Meinl Marathon Series can be purchased separately and they are decent drums.

[taikonoatama]

An 11" drum is much easier to develop a slap on than a larger drum. So to facilitate learning a good slap (which is undoubtedly the hardest stroke) - the 11" quinto is not a bad choice.

Yes and no.

Of course, getting a slap on a smaller drum is easier to do. But in terms of long term development of technique, this isn't necessarily a good thing, IMHO.

The reason is that there's a greater margin for error with your slap technique on a smaller drum (i.e., Even if someone's technique is sloppy/bad, they might still be able to get a halfway decent slap on the quinto (it's an inherently more forgiving drum in terms of the slap), yet if that same bad technique is used on a segundo you'll just get "thud.") And the situation would be even worse on a tumba.

However, if you learn on a segundo first, it will be harder to get a good slap (because the drum requires more exacting technique due to shape, tuning, and typically thicker skin than your standard-issue out-of-the-box big-brand quinto, which typically have a somewhat thin head). BUT, this is a good thing. It'll force you to work harder on your technique. If you can learn the technique to get a good slap on a segundo (especially without hitting hard), when you then play a quinto you'll be all set - you can apply the same slap technique to a smaller drum and get a great slap.

Someone here mentioned (for the same reasons I've stated, I think) that it's best to learn the slap on a tumba. In theory, I'd agree, but depending on the drum and the player/student, it might just be a little too hard/frustrating. Not a bad idea, though, especially if one has a slight masochistic streak. For sure, if you can get good slap on a tumba (without hitting hard) you'll be set for the other drums.

[congamyk]

As the player develops he/she should learn to facilitate the slap technique to the conga/segundo.
The player should progress to learn all of the tones on all of the drums as they are acquired.

[congamyk]

Just checking out Toma Cruz' DVD.
Is he using a quinto as the main drum when playing the 2 drum patterns?
can anyone tell?

[vinnieL]

The whole quinto or conga as a middle drum is such a huge debate. I like a conga in the middle but many very accomplished players who have been around the game forever play a quinto as a center drum I know JC does but many guys will not do it. I think the vast majority now play conga in the middle but I guess it comes down to what the individual likes or even down to the particular song or music they are playing. It's something I think about all the time.

[congamyk]

I disagree with your statement that the "vast majority" use the "conga in the middle" in a 3 drum config of Q/C/T.

Most players that use the 3 drum config (quinto/conga/tumba) place the quinto in the middle as the main drum.
If someone uses the quinto in a 3 drum setup it is almost always in the middle with the conga on one side, tumba on the other.
There are hundreds of photos and videos on the web where this is the case.

I have rarely if ever seen the quinto on the side except when the player is using 4 or 5 drums.

Many players prefer the conga as the center drum but in that case they don't use the quinto.
They will almost always use 2 congas and 1 tumba or 1 conga and 2 tumbas (no quinto).

There really isn't that much difference between the modern-sized quinto and a modern-sized conga.
Tuning seems to be 90% of that small difference.

[CongaTick]

T, Q, C setup with my reggae/funk band The Broozers Saturday night at Sligo's, Media, PA.

[KING CONGA]

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T, Q, C setup with my reggae/funk band The Broozers Saturday night at Sligo's, Media, PA.

I typically set up in a triangle pattern using my Quinto as the driver my conga to the right and the Tumba in front of both, this set up work great for me.

Congatick I could not help noticing those Aspire bongos with Remo heads, how does that work for you?

[Tonio]

Interesting KC, you're right handed? I think I'll give that a try to see see how it feels.
Currently I use a quinto or conga as the ride drum (center) and segun on left, tumba on right - I'm right handed to a degree.

Previously I used to have quinto ride drum, segun to righ and tumba far right, not exactly truangular, but off center.

T

[congamyk]

Interesting KC, you're right handed? I think I'll give that a try to see see how it feels.
Currently I use a quinto or conga as the ride drum (center) and segun on left, tumba on right - I'm right handed to a degree.

Previously I used to have quinto ride drum, segun to righ and tumba far right, not exactly truangular, but off center.

T

Raul Rekow uses that arrangement also.
What got you going in that direction?

[CongaTick]

King Conga,

Actually the Aspires with Remo heads work just fine. I am not a bongocero, by any definition, and use them as accents and exclusively on some songs. Properly mic'ed they pop very nicely through guitars, bass, kit. Never was a purist. The shells are more than adequate, I believe, on most mass-produced drums, and with the right heads and technique will offer more than satisfactory results. I have used the triangle pattern quite often Q in center, C to the left, T to the right (works for me as a lefty player) but found that in gigging situations space limitations may make that an unwieldy setup. However, the only thing that matters is the sound and how well you can help plow the groove deeper.

[Tonio]

I disagree with your statement that the "vast majority" use the "conga in the middle" in a 3 drum config of Q/C/T.

Most players that use the 3 drum config (quinto/conga/tumba) place the quinto in the middle as the main drum.
If someone uses the quinto in a 3 drum setup it is almost always in the middle with the conga on one side, tumba on the other.
There are hundreds of photos and videos on the web where this is the case.

I think Vinny was refering to using a segun as the ride, and not necessarily with a quinto off to the side. IMo many "pros" in a POP or modern setting tend to use a quinto ride drum, and in a latin-esque settings they tend to use segun ride drum. Allthough there is many in between with different styles etc.

Are we off topic enoughy et ??

T

[Tonio]

Interesting KC, you're right handed? I think I'll give that a try to see see how it feels.
Currently I use a quinto or conga as the ride drum (center) and segun on left, tumba on right - I'm right handed to a degree.

Previously I used to have quinto ride drum, segun to righ and tumba far right, not exactly truangular, but off center.

T

Raul Rekow uses that arrangement also.
What got you going in that direction?

With segun on my left ? I dunno, it just felt right a few times and kinda stuck with it.

T

[nobleway]

I played with just one drum for about 10 months. It was a good experience getting used to perfecting my tones and to just playing period. I started off with a conga and I bought a tumba a couple months back. I went to a teacher a couple of times in my first months of playing and he told me that originally congueros played with just one drum and he showed me a way to mark clave with one drum. Recently I picked up Giovanni's Hidalgo's excellent DVD called Conga Virtuoso. He repeats that conga players once just played with one drum. He shows a very large range of variations of the tumbao for just one drum. A few are old school, several are new school and some are a mix. More and more I hear well developed and interesting play with one or two drums. Peace!