Thumb - Are you using it or not and Why!?

[Jure]

When you play do you place thumb away from head example on open tone,muff,HT,slap,... or you use it. I think that most conga players are not using thumb when strike the head (open,muff,...).
What is your opinion???

B.R.
Jure

[JohnnyConga]

If you "stick" your thumb outside the rest of the hand it creates "tension" in the hand..you do not want that...so pull it back in and keep it with the rest of your fingers....My 2 congas..."JC" Johnny Conga... ...callouses are part of the playing process....sorry....

[bdrbongo]

I agree with JC, I tried playing with my thumb out the other night and it felt odd. I've never noticed it before, but unless I'm playing quiet little accents on the very edge of the head, my thumb is in.

[Berimbau]

Generally while playing Afro-Cuban I also keep my thumb in. But I do use it quite a bit in extended teachnique situations to emulate tabla sounds on the tumbadora when playing Indian rhythms. Also Nana Vasconcelos taught me an awesome roll created with a split hand/thumb approach that gives you four sounds to play around with. that is quite beautiful.



Ashe,



Berimbau

[Bataboom]

I leave my thumbs in for all except the tone stroke I get a cleaner warmer tone stroke with no thumbs involved thats just the way I do it and it works for me

[Jongo]

I never thought about it so I just played a little right now and I play with my thumb relaxed and so it ends up aligned with my hand in I guess what we would call the "in" position.

[akdom]

Thumbs in or out???????


i never thought of that... and I think it is the best.

Don't focus on things that do not really matter.

Just play with all your fingers in a relaxed position, look for the sound and comfort and your thumbs will find their place naturally.


B

[tamboricua]

Congaforum,

Changuito and Gio go over this topic on Chango's "Evolution of the Tumbadoras" video. Check it out!

Saludos,

Jorge Ginorio

[bongoron]

I should add...Although I don't strike the head with my thumb, I do use it to raise the pitch of the open tone. Also to "bow", I think is the term for a smooth swooping sound up or down depending on the direction to or from the center. Also to mute a "popping" sound from my right hand near the edge..not a slap per se, but a muted pop with the left thumb holding the head tight next to the strike area...whatever that is called.

God bless!

-Ron

[franc]

I maintain my thumb slightly in and up against my first finger. also depending on the stroke i point it upwards. bass,ghost strokes or tap i keep my thumb close to the rest of my finger. the thumb eventually will find its' place on the awsome stroke, i agree!! my best to all, franc :blush:

[Whopbamboom]

Just saw this old thread. To chip in, I have to say that I use my thumbs very frequently on open tones and rolls. Just my style, I guess. But I find that they allow for rapid-fire stuff sometimes, plus they have their own unique sound on open tones. I don't use the thumbs for dampening at all, I use them for an actual stroke. And sometimes this helps me straighten out LH-RH coordination issues during a pattern. They work very well for me. But congas weren't my first drumming instrument, djembe was...

[CongaTick]

I use them thumbtimes :laugh:

[Grateful1]

I def use my thumb alot. I think this is more frequent with those of us who began on the djembe. I find that the heel toe technique still works just fine with the thumb out. And then when i need a triplet, i go heel-tip-thumb. 1-2-3.. then once all three are firmly on the head, i often use muted slap. .... 1-2-3-slap....as of now i dont have any other means in my aresnal to accomplish the rapid rythyms...

my 2

[CongaBoy]

I'm new to the Congas and I find that on my open tones I’m hitting the side of my thumb knuckle on the rim of the Conga. Anyone else experience the same?

[congamyk]

i keep my thumbs out of the way except for heel/tip