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Posted: **Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:33 pm**

Hello everyone! Can the traditional rhythm experts give me some typical tempos to use in my electronic metronome for practicing tumbao and son montuno in particular...also martillo for bongos (okay I play that on congas too, so shoot me).

My band doesn't play Latin music at all, but I want to gain proficiency and evenness on these rhythms at whatever tempos they commonly are played at. That way I can turn on the satellite radio and play along, or just turn on the beeper.

Thanks Guys.

God bless!
-Ron

Posted: **Sat Apr 08, 2006 4:21 pm**

You could start the RPM around 80,and work you speed up.Dr. Zaragemca

Posted: **Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:53 am**

hmm RPM of 80 huh? sounds like a transmission in distress

bongoron, whats up ! Just set the metronome to whatever you feel comfortable with. Then move onto a faster and slower tempo and make sure you can make the patterns feel right.At least that will build you confidence no matter what tempo.
Also, IMO playing martillo on congas is similar to playing sica(SP?).
It doesn't matter if your band doesn't play latin tunes, man. Incorporate latin patterns into the song. Well as long as the tunes are not big hits with a genre in mind. But what the hey, try it anyway. It could work. Just make sure the groove is'nt compromised!!
T

Posted: **Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:42 am**

its BPM not rpm's lol
80 rpm would have him in granny gear :-)

Yeah I use tumbao ina several different gospel tunes as long as you can work um in there your good to go, yu usually can feel it gell, if it feels more like pudding then you should stop HAHAH!

Posted: **Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:20 pm**

Thanks guys. I find myself doubling the tempo of the song to infuse energy with a busier pattern. Especially with tumbao. I just wondered what latin music is played at or around, since doubling puts me in the 180- 240 bpm range already...starting at 80 is kindof a step backward. I find it very difficult to maintain good tumbao technique witn my left hand above 240, though...espectially the tip after the slap. I plan to buy some latin music when the finances improve, and I want to be a little more ready to play it in the meantime. I'm wondering how far behind I'll be at these tempos...if at all. Much of the music I hear from time to time is clearly using variations of tumbao that I don't know, even though the basic pattern is very recognizable. If I ever get to the rumba group in the park with Mike, I want my hands to be up to speed at least so I can learn those patterns more easily.

BTW, played my new conga and tumba in the church band yesterday for the first time...very much improvement in tone in that setting! I was very happy with the schallochs, but had no other reference there at church. I was always able to do my job of "fattening the sound" with them, but these new ones are a whole different animal in the tone department, and I found myself able to contribute more molodically in the fill sections than ever before. There are several different open tones on each drum with these by applying some tension in the middle with a thumb. That is much more difficult (although doable) with the schallochs... also, the actually "note" of the open tone is much louder and projects better. In other words, my open tones are much more usable in this setting than before. Our band is quite loud, so even on mike I noticed it. I only used one mike for the two drums, vs. two before. Quite a difference in volume. Also the bass tone was described as "very rich" to me by another musician. He stands by me and knows the sound of my other drums..always liked it, but can tell the improvement. We looked at the bongo heads and the new conga heads...the new ones are more than twice as thick. The old drums appear to use the same skin grade as the bongos, so big difference there. Can't wait to change skins on the old ones when I get some extra cash. First I need to add the quinto...LOL.

God bless!
-Ron

Edited By bongoron on 1144683585

Posted: **Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:22 pm**

Tonio wrote:Also, IMO playing martillo on congas is similar to playing sica(SP?).

Hola Tonio,

I don't get it, can you please elaborate on this?

Saludos,

Jorge Ginorio

Posted: **Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:41 pm**

Saludos,for the record to the brothers the term could be used on both ways bpm,(beat per minute,or rpm,(rate per minute),also the term could mean 'Revolution Per Minute', which was the first term used in the phonographic business to control the proper recording and reproduction of sound and music.Dr. Zaragemca

Edited By zaragemca on 1144711521

Posted: **Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:28 pm**

Well, I have all five drums in my living room right now. They are tuned and complement each other nicely...although I can't play a cd and the bass tone on the new tumba without it skipping! There is a difference in the warmth, or richness in the two sets, but I was able to tune them so they really sound good together with lots of melodic possibility! I have been practicing several three, four and five drum patterns and some are variations of tumbao, martillo, son montuno and rhumba. Very interesting, the possibilities. Friday's gig will be very cool, as I have many new fill patterns to respond to the guitars with.

Posted: **Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:09 pm**

Great Job Abure Bongoron!

Just remember to have fun with it!

Many blessings!
Onile!

Posted: **Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:22 pm**

Thank you, my friend.

God bless!

-Ron

Edited By bongoron on 1144708064

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Tempo question