Stay tuned! - Everything around tone stability

[Mike]

Hey everyone,
I wanted to open the often-discussed pandora´s box of tuning again for the question what experience and tip or tricks you can share on the following points:

- Do your congas stay in tune alright under even conditions, i.e. without major climate changes?
I leave the congas I play almost daily tuned at a moderate pitch, even the quinto without high tension and this works out quite OK: The C - Bb - G
tones mostly stay OK overnight.

- Role of skin thickness as well?
I guess thin skins react more quickly

- Are some types of skin more prone to losing tone stability than others?
Not too sure, but my (well, my quinto´s :;): muleskin does the tone-keeping quite well, better than factory heads at least.

- Are perhaps even some brands renowned which keep the tuning results best?

- What precaution is advised for different kinds of environment and weather? Also when transposting them?
On stage, the limelight lighting often causes
annoying "self-up-tuning" - is there any remedy beyond the wrench?

In general , tumbadoras must be tuned and also fine-tuned for sure. I often do this meticulously to reach the best sound. However, the constant tuning process can be a nuisance because it eats your playing time

Looking forward to many hot replies:

Mike (trying to get his hands warm in foggy European autumn weather)



Edited By Mike on 1193471112

[CongaTick]

Mike,
I pretty much take a common sense approach to tuning, and rarely overanalyze it. I have mules on my 3 drums and I ear-tune them each time I play, bringing them up to tension first, then fine tuning as I try out some pattern combinations. Of course, I fine tune one or all as I play through a gig to maximize the percussive "melody". I ALWAYS de-tune after gig and practice by at least one turn of the wrench allowable by the arc defined by its positioning with the shell. Artificial heads, of course, cut all of these steps since they're almost impervious to temp/humidity changes.

[CongaTick]

Oh, and though I don't have pro conga cases to shlep them in-- my wife sewed some heavily padded bed comforters into "conga condoms" which I slip over my babies....and, of course, like everyone else here, I do treat them like babies.

[Mike]

"conga condoms" which I slip over my babies...

I liked that one

like everyone else here, I do treat them like babies

(More seriously:) Yes, that´s the way I treat them too.

And I realize that detuning is essential to keep the congaheads´life.

I was just curious to what extent the conga tuning done by you congueros out there between, say Finland and Puerto Rico, is affected by weather and other circumstances, e.g. central heating which can be terrible if overdone because the air is getting as dry as a dromedar fart (ahem - sorry, or similar)

[CongaTick]

Yep, central heating will affect the skins. However, with normal tuneup and tunedown it's never been a problem. The only problem I have had was playing al fresco on a hot and humid day. The humidity can make those skins feel and sound like damp cardboard. Under those conditions, tuneup and tweaking doesn not completely eliminate their dullness and lack of projection. On days and gigs like that, I wish I were fiberskinned.

[Mike]

I wish I were fiberskinned.

I guess so, in extremely humid surroundings. Otherwise for me synthetic skins don´t really work - I don´t like the sound at all.
Besides I´m not too sure whether to leave a quinto with a fiberskyn tuned up - not bad for the skin, but for the shell /if it is wooden) I guess ???

[burke]

If this is seen as post hyjacking My apologies - I know I will be severely smacked about the head for this but I'm one of "those guys" who leaves their drums tuned up all the time. Its just never seemed to make difference. I've never had drum go out of round (or seen one for that matter).

Am I lazy? God yes! But I also like to be able to just sit down and play when the mood strikes me and being lazy I know that if I had to first tune up I'd do so less if I had to tune first. Which is not say I never tune cause living in Cool Canada (and near the ocean) they fluctuate a tad now and then.

Come on guys who else shares this sinful practice?

I'm bad - I know it

Darrell (rebel without a wrench - well actually I have one)

[No.2-1820]

I'm a fiddler, I started out lazy and now tweak and tune often, always by ear according to what I'm playing to or with, if it's just clave for practice I still tweak them until I like how they sound. I detune to quite loose after playing ( to prolong the life of my skins and avoid shell damage, my valje quinto is slightly out of round from it's previous owner) and enjoy getting them back where I need them next time, it's all part of it now. I usually find the need for a little adjustment after I've been playing for a bit.

Here's my strange habit.... I like to rub the sweat from my head into the skins during a good session !

Barrie.

[Mike]

I know I will be severely smacked about the head for this but I'm one of "those guys" who leaves their drums tuned up all the time. Its just never seemed to make difference.

As I said I also indulge in this little "sin" (if it is one) once in a while, but not with high-pitched drums. I´m just too anxious that my beloved drums (e.g. quinto , bongos) will be harmed in any way. Eventually the skins will give in one day - even if you have eqipped your congas with the skins of sturdy beasts such as mule, cattle, real-deal buffalo or whatever.
Again: of course this won´t happen if you leave them at a moderate pitch. A plus you have as a hard-headed detuning rejector is that if you practice with congas tuned constantly tuned in a mid range of tones, your slaps and also other technique will improve. In other words if you can get a decent slap out of your wastebin you can make it on every drum

[akdom]

Well..

just a few personal info:

I use extremely thick skins, and never buy my skins in shops.... I bought my last set to Congalou who is in this forum.. 3 mm thick, this prevents off tuning while playing..

Also, I always carry a rubber hammer along with my congas. When I tune them, I finish with a few hits on the rim tu finish tuning them nicely and releasing stress to the hooks too. I works amazingly well.

When on gig and drums geting off tuned because of sweat, humidity or anything else, I makes sure my mics are away from the skins (of course... ) and I hit them again. In 10 seconds, they are ready for another hour of hard play..

Lights (as mentionned) can 'over tune' your drums after a while.. same trick.. hit the rim, but from the bottom this time.. Efficient, easy, fast...

I also off tune my drums after each session (about 4 turns per hook) and hit them with my fist in their center to loosen them and 'unstick' the skins to the edge of the drum.


I highly recommend everyone to try it. It costs nothing and is, with the wrench the best tool for a conguero.


B

[CongaTick]

Tunedown. Always. (Good stuff Akdom. )

[hueroconguero]

part 1: response
I play 4 lp classic wood congas with factory skins, they sound fabulous indoors,but I'm from Houston, and now in Dallas and the humidity is Killer (outdoors)! a lot of baby powder helps but doesnt solve the big challenge, of keeping a good tone.
part2: question
do you ever tune your drums to notes, like on a piano or guitar or violin? C, B, G, etc. if so, what do you use to check the notes? a little tuner or someone on the piano? sorry if this has been discussed before

huero

[franc]

AKDOM,
great advice. congratulation!! i have remo nuskin in my congas. i am kind of lazy tuning and untuning. they sound great . i did not tune them high the first time i installed them. i have the sound sort of medium pitch. like the old school did. my best and take care . aché, franc ♪

[Mike]

part2: question
do you ever tune your drums to notes, like on a piano or guitar or violin? C, B, G, etc. if so, what do you use to check the notes? a little tuner or someone on the piano? sorry if this has been discussed before

Basically I tune by ear or by a particular tune I like to play along with. BTW, if you pick up the phone, the tone will be A (440Hz) - at least here in Germany, so that is quite some help.
On the other hand, I am happy with the c - g tuning and you can notice if your tuning is more or less correct after a while.

Just my 2cents

Mike

[yambu321]

I'VE ALWAYS TUNED MY DRUMS BY EAR, AS MOST OF GUYS DID, WHERE I'M FROM. I WOULD TUNE FOR WHAT EVER I WAS DOING. RUMBA, LATIN JAZZ, OR WHATEVER. IT'S JUST EASY FOR ME TO DO, BECAUSE THAT IS THE WAY I WAS THOUGHT. I JUST CRINGE WHEN I HEAR SOMEONE SAY, I TUNE MY CONGAS TO A B,C,D,E OR WHATEVER. BUT, IF THAT WORKS FINE FOR SOME ALL THE POWER TO THEM.

FOR PLAYING IN TRULY HUMID PLACES WHERE THE NATURAL HIDES ARE A NIGHTMARE TO KEEP TUNED. I WOULD GO WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY SYNTHETIC SKINS I COULD FIND. THEY WON'T GO OUT OF TUNE.
IT'S A TRADE OFF THOUGH, BECAUSE NATURAL SKINS SOUND BETTER.



Edited By yambu321 on 1197451643