by congabebe » Sun Nov 17, 2002 1:40 am
Hi Fish,
More comments to add on Funk. I have not been playing long. Most of my back ground in music is classical and flute and sax. I love to dance, so I would say that funk and R & B is why I took up congas. I love latin music. But I don't live in a town that breathes with latin influences. Memphis is the home of Elvis and Stax Music. My husband has played in rock bands many years and the band he was in lost their conga player. He was not really a conga player, he was a drummer who loved country and played guitar, cow bell, tamborine and congas when he had no guitar part to contribute. He could keep tempo, but when he left. I bugged the #### out of the band til they agreed to let me try. The drummer in the band loaned me his Cosmic Congas and roto toms and cow bell. I spent about 2 weeks banging on them. Then out of pure frustration, I went and got a video tape and I learned the traditional patterns from videos. It helped me learn how to make the different sounds out of the congas. And I found that the patterns could be used in all sorts of ways to flavor the music. The band I play in has been very supportive, but they have been surprized at my determination to play and learn new things to bring to our ensemble. I don't think they had a clue how much I wanted to play and so I really have surprized them and alot of our friends as well as the fans that have been following the band. It has been about 2 years. I have sat in with a country band, a jazz band, and a solo guitar/vocalist. I can play but I don't have the experience that alot of the other players on this web site, that is why I love it so. I practice to videos, and spend hours playing cds' and playing against them. I have some Books also. But to me funk starts with James Brown, Cameo, Earth Wind and Fire, Marvin Gaye, so I have practiced with them and Santana, as well as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kid Rock, etc. But the traditional patterns on the videos is how I started learning. I don't think I would have been able to get as far as I have if I had not started with them.
Good luck with your band.
Congabebe