reggae - reggae conga rhythm

[mico]

hey guys just wondering if you guys know any site music or written notations for learning how to play reggae on conga??TY

[congamyk]

Hi mico, welcome to the conga forum.

Kalani's VHS teaches a nice conga groove for reggae.

[zaragenca]

Welcome Mico, even when there aren't many Reggae Bands in Jamaica with congas,(Halper) is one of them,I personally don like what the percussionist does in the band,(which is imitating the sound of the drummer,when playing Djembe)....I wish I could have the sound track of the band where I was playing,(the Web Side is down),so you could listen to it,the articulation which I created would flow within the bass/line and the beat played by the drummer,( which could be ,One Drop,Two Drop,Rock Steady and Socka),plus several calls which the singer could make for dynamic purpose...I have played with about four differents Reggae/Bands.Dr. Zaragemca

[zaragenca]

Talking about Reggae,I participated in another jamming in Galveston last weekeng,(Friday),back into a place which was close for sometime,the response was great,up till the end,and they wanted more.Dr. Zaragemca

[Charangaman]

I'm trying to fit into some Reggae action also.. Listening to a lot of west Africa High life and Trinidad Calypso, seems to me the Bongo comes to the fore and the Congas hold time with simplified Marcha in a lot of these records...

I heard the album Ska Cubano which is a fusion of Jamaican and Cuban styles.. Interesting project but mixed reults..

[Thomas]

Hi!
I recently got hired as the percussionist of a local reggae band, has anyone of you ever played in reggae bands as multi-percussionist? What instruments do you play? Blocks, Cabasa, Vibraslap, Tambourine, Congas and Bongos, what else would fit in your opinion? Which rhythms do you play?
I'm not really sure what the role of the percussionist in a reggae band really is, because in the most recordings I know, one can only hear blocks, tambourine, shaker, etc.
Your help would really be appreciated! Thanks!
All the best Tom!

[Charangaman]

Hey Thomas, I'm in exactly the same position.. Going to jam with the band this weekend so I'll just groove and see what works.. Trial and error I guess..

[Thomas]

Hey Charangaman!
Me and the band are also going to rehearse the first time this weekend...
I'm confident that we both will make it bro!! Grooving is always good!!
All the Best, Tom!

[Charangaman]

Good luck man,let us know how it goes ...

Come on pro's! Help the Reggae boys out with some riddims!

:;):

[zaragenca]

Welcome Thomas, as percussionists the congas would fit in any of the Reggae/patterns,bongos,shakers,and (timbales for shorts/brakes),could be used also,the patterns are,... one/drop- two/drops-Socka-and, dance hall,...also there are several dynamics calls,(if the singer has experience on it),and the percussionists could use blocks,bongos,tamborine,congas,bells,etc.(all depending on what the bass and the drummer are doing.My best wishes for your project.Dr. Zaragemca

[Sakuntu]

Thomas and Charangaman, I've played lots of reggae as a multi percussionist and i think you hit the nail on the head-lots of swung tamborine, wood block accents, bongos fills with lots of triplets (which take the place of the "pita" drum (the "quinto of Rastafarian Nyabinghi drumming) as well as some cowbell and shaker accents. once an awhile you'll hear congas playing a groove over the kit but very rarely. The percussion is arranged with lots of switching between instruments and making very long spaced out patterns-ex a tambo hit on the 4, then 2 bars later a 1 bar triangle rhythm-back to the tambo hit on the 4 then a maraca rhythm back to the tambo hit etc....The albums that helped me learn are Steel Pulse "true democracy" Alpha Blondy "aparthied is Nazism" and Third World (96 degrees in the shade). Hope this helps. Just listen, mimick and have fun adding nice colors that push the music and comment on the groove!

[Jongo]

I don't know if this will help but what I have played with reggae is tumbao with a reggae feel. Straight reggae tumbao first bar, second bar:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
h t s t h o t o

I didn't write that correctly those open tones should be on the tumba

You can also play:
s s b o o o b t s s b o o o b t

first slap is accented second open tone is accented, so one and three is accented.

Maybe you can use this, I hope it helps. Good luck!

[Thomas]

Thanks bros for your help!
Tomorrow is "showtime", I keep you updated!
All the best,
Tom!

[Thomas]

Yess-I!
Was playing with the reggae band today (10 people in a small room, very hot!!)!
Thanks for the advices, also played your conga groove jongo (changed it a little bit though).
They were totally satisfied with me, so mission completed!
Thanks again and BIG UP!! :;): :laugh:



Edited By Thomas on 1170616592

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 756191.gif

[Charangaman]

Sakuntu & Jongo..

Many thanks for these great tips...

Thomas, that sounds excellant, congratulations..
We were only five.. Singer, Sax, Bass, Guitar and myself.
They have really nice original material and do some classic covers..

There were no drumset so I ended up playing Cajon a lot sometimes with caxixi.. The Bongo worked out really good too.. So I'm in the band and we meet again this week..