Left Hand Slaps

[afrocubarico]

Happy Thanksgiving fellow congueros!
I have been practicing and playing my salsa tumbao using a technique that I believe might have originated from our fellow Cuban drummers (not sure). It is the technique where your left hand (for right hand players) comes back for the last Tip right before the two open tones with the right hand, in the tumbao.

It actually becomes somewhat of a left hand slap instead of the "normal" left hand tip. The result is a unique "pop" sound which provides a unique sound to the tumbao.

It is a technique that requires some serious practice in order to really get it to sound good and consistent. It is very difficult to get at top speeds! One conguero who I have seen doing this technique at fast speeds with a really good sound, is the late Anga.

Does anyone know the name for this particular technique and does anyone here use it exclusively? I don't see too many congueros play their tumbaos in this fashion.

afrocubarico

[pidoca]

hi, Abakua taught me something very similar. ask Abakua he will know.

Pidoca
www.cabritamusic.com

[franc]

afrocubarico,
that is the ''and'' of the third hand stroke. you can accent the stroke by a slap or open tone. which ever you like . i don't know the name of this particular technique. but practicing very slow at first you will learn the technique. ''my two clave bars''!! take care and my best. happy thanksgiving to you and all in this great forum!! FELICIDADES!!! franc

[+pablo+]

is this kinda what you're talking about? ...the three successive lefts on the first measure.. (ps this is from the cookbook/rhythms/cuba/tumbao)

thanks.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... tumbao.jpg

[Diceman]

Afrocubarico,

The way I picked it up was to put in a light right hand bass tone/drop, after the picoteo, then slapping with the left hand before moving the right hand across to do the two opens. In other words replacing the second left hand bass/tip with a R/L. It sounds the same as the regular but gives you time to do a proper slap at speed, and to get both slaps sounding the same.eg

btStBsOO

b=bass, t=tip, s=slap, o=open
lowercase=weak hand, UPPERCASE=strong hand

Hope that helps.

Diceman

[boogie]

wow i thought there was something weird about the way i play,im right handed but my left slaps are much stronger and crisp.but having left hand slaps lets me be more creative with my strong right hand

[trickyricky]

Hey gang!
Through your discussion I "discovered" the following for the tumbao:
THSTHTOO THSooSSOO
Maybe this isn't new to yall but it is a new variation for me. I had learned the drop/bass from Richie Cajate Garcia's CD, but the quick RL slap in the place of the drop/bass is a nice touch.
As usual, you folks are great!
Keep on keepin on
rick

[solo]

hello trickyricky!

I have confused with the part: THSooSSOO. why the part consist of 9 note? is the 9th note, the first beat of next bar? do know what I mean? sory, my english is bad.
thanks!



Edited By solo on 1164800983

[ozrivera]

Saludos

I play a similiar variation, which i think is what you're talking about.

LLRRRLLRR
THSooHSOO

its similar than the one that trickricky posted but, instead of 2 slaps change it to a heel - slap done in double time (underlined above). the slap is will done pulling back towards the rim.
solo
that is the reason why theres 9 notes because the heel - slap is done in double time.
hope this helps.

oz