Lifting conga with feet - techniques for lifting conga with feet

[ozrivera]

Saludos Hermanos

can someone tell me the best way to lift the conga of the ground to produce bass tones.
i have tried different ways but i still cant get it right. when im wearing shoes its real slippery and difficult but, when i lift the conga barefooted i can do it with no problem. maybe some one can shed some light, before i start playing barefooted in front of an audience. LOL

thanks

OZ

[verticalgil]

If i were you i would not be so concern about lifting the instrument, in most cases(rhythms) you dont have to do it . When playing just by tilting the conga you can get a good open tone .Another option is a stand IF you dont mind playing standing... :ghostface:

[onile]

Alafia Abures!
Espero que todo este bien con mis Panas!

Now if you still want to play seated and execute this move while playing, you will probably find it easier to also use your legs in this process.

Essentially, squeezing the drum with your knees and down at the bottom with your feet, then gently "lift" and you should be able to get the desired affect from the sound!

Many blessings!

Suave!

Onile!



Edited By onile on 1161805463

[onile]

Sorry, I tried to edit the previous post and wound up duplicating it!

Suave!



Edited By onile on 1161806392

[verticalgil]

AGREE USING YOUR KNEES and legs at the same time will get the job done... good point :ghostface: even better if you use short pants...


suerte...



Edited By verticalgil on 1161823493

[ozrivera]

hey fellas

thanks a lot, i know that i can get a good sound by just tilting the drum, but it sounds so much better lifting the entire conga. dont get me wrong i lift the conga it just seems like a lot of effort goes to lifting it. ive seen players lift them with little or no effort at all and, i guess thats my goal. but i guess theres no secret. i guess ill have to practice a lot more just like everything else. LOL

suave

oz

[verticalgil]

everything takes practice is like when you first start driving a car always looking to the front bumper... after a few weeks your saying hi to everybody on the side of the road

[yoni]

Hey all!

I think less slippery pants help, and using more lower leg pressure, as mentioned. Once I saw Ray Barretto lift his quinto for a moment - and then drop it right on the beat in a run while playing other congas also. Sounded awesome. Clearly, one can't play for long while holding a conga this way. Use hands to lift first, then bring knees and feet closer together to grab it. When I don't use stands I usually tip the drum forward instead to get a good bass sound.

[Charangaman]

Greetings,

Aren't there some sort of rubber feet things you can buy to keep it raised?

Or I've seen someone with somekind of rope around their legs and thru the drum..

I tip it forward resting on a fourth conga.

[ozrivera]

yes there are rubber conga feet that raise the conga but, unless i get the feet for all the congas the one with the feet will be higher than the others.
i have actually been practising on several techniques trying different clothing and shoes and found that if you wear rubber sole shoes that the lifting is not that bad.
of course youll have to tuck your heels tight as close as you can possibly get it to the very bottom of the conga and readjust every time you lift it. but it seems like wearing the right kind of shoes and clothing makes all the difference in the world.

thanks for all the advice

oz

[rhumbatumba]

Hey all!

I think less slippery pants help, and using more lower leg pressure, as mentioned. Once I saw Ray Barretto lift his quinto for a moment - and then drop it right on the beat in a run while playing other congas also. Sounded awesome. Clearly, one can't play for long while holding a conga this way. Use hands to lift first, then bring knees and feet closer together to grab it. When I don't use stands I usually tip the drum forward instead to get a good bass sound.

Yes, this is a big help... it is much easier with shorts. I know some players that have actually added grip tape to the sides of the congas to help them grip when wearing long pants.

I tend to grab the conga with my feet and thighs... you dont have to lift it very long just for a a second to get the tone and then let it back down.

[G-Man]

OZ,

A while back I bought some of the Toca Conga Stands. They were the stand up size with the longer adjustible legs. I modified them by cutting down the length of the legs so that my drums (3) would all be 1.5 inches off the floor. They are very stable, the drums sound great, and I can use them on any surface without scratching. These stands also let me tilt the drums up to a point and hold them there. I think you can get them for about $15-$25 online. Toca also makes a "sit down" version in 3 sizes.

I was watching a Giovanni DVD a few weeks ago and noticed that he had a bungie cord hooked on both sides of his quinto and around the back legs of his chair. It looked kinda uncomfortable as it was cutting into his legs.

Whatever works! Just keep those hands a bouncin on them skins!

G :;):

[zaragenca]

I think that this topic was touched before,the technique was widely used during the 30's when the cuban percussionists were playing with only one instrument,and were developing the skills of getting five,(or more),differents tones and pitches from it,first it was used in the Guaguanco/setting and later was incorporated in the Conjunto/setting,also hanging the tumbadora from the shoulders,(comparsa style), and bringing it over to the front of the stage as it was done by Miguelito Valdez,Roberto Faz,etc...guest who brought the tecnique,( of lifting the congas), to the conjuntos?.Dr Zaragemca

[Omelenko]

When it came to lifting the macho off the floor while playing,Mongo was the main man.Mongo's legs and knees looked like greased pistons when he lifted the quinto off the floor.Mongo had it down to a science,of course he was from that old skool of Habana rumberos from the 30's. Saludos, Dario

[zaragenca]

Welcome Omelenko,you are pretty good and get pretty close,(the guy was one of the Mongo Santamaria Idols).Dr. Zaragemca