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???

BR
Jure



Edited By Jure on 1147422576

[solo]

hallo

yeah. you right. I never use my thumb either for open tone or muff

ade asmitha

[Charangaman]

Never thought about that, I guess not at all on Congas but on Bongo it is very important.

[Jure]

I use it because i think you can be faster and you have one tension less due to muscle that keeps thumb away!?

BR
Jure

[Charangaman]

I'm not sure if I'm consiously keeping the thumb away, it just sort of naturally hangs.

[Master2987]

I noticed that about myself. I tried using a rubber band to try keeping my thumb together to the rest of my hand without making any real effort. It kind of works if you practice like that long enough.

[Bataboom]

I do not use my thumb because with a tone stroke the joint bone in my thumb is right on the bearing edge. If I move up closer to the center then it would turn into a bass stroke its effortless for me to keep my thumbs out of the picture for tone strokes so thats the way its gonna stay :p bass and slaps is another story thumbs be jammin ! mon!

[bongoron]

I ws goingtotry and notice this at last night's gig, and I forgot. I guess to me it doesn't matter, but I don't think I use it...can't picture what for except on a muted drop tone when the whole hand just sort of falls. I don't know if that counts as "use".

God bless!

-Ron