playing four congas

[olive.c]

Hello.
I am an amateur player looking to add a couple of congas to my set, to play with four. Can anyone tell me or suggest what sizes are typical in a a four congas set? I suspect a quinto, tumba, and two congas. Also, what are the opinions of Meinl artist series vs Tycoon master series as possible congas to add, and lastly, Thai oak vs white ash for shells.
Thanks.

[pavloconga]

You could just add another tumba and conga and just tune them differently to your current drums.
If you have the budget you could buy a super tumba or a quinto.
A lot depends on the kind of music you play (e.g. a quinto is not so suitable if playing in a salsa band) and having the knowledge to be able to incorporate the extra sounds into the music so that it adds to the music rather than detracts.

[Omelenko1]

Nothing bad intended. You claim that you're an amateur conga player, that translates to someone starting out. Why would you want a 4 conga set up to play? Someone starting out (amateur) should concentrate on playing one conga properly, then progessively add one more. Papo Pepin with only 1 conga plays better than your finest congueros with 4 congas. A hefty well played tumbao on 1 conga sounds much better, than whatever comes out on 4 congas. My 2 cents.

Dario

[mrhands]

Hello.
I am an amateur player looking to add a couple of congas to my set, to play with four. Can anyone tell me or suggest what sizes are typical in a a four congas set? I suspect a quinto, tumba, and two congas. Also, what are the opinions of Meinl artist series vs Tycoon master series as possible congas to add, and lastly, Thai oak vs white ash for shells.
Thanks.

What's your current set-up? If you are refering to Meinl Luis Conte series congas as the artist series, I can tell you that they are great. You may have some trouble finding heads for them, but I can help you there. I spent a few months/ orders trying to look for remo heads that fit. I found that the Remo regular Crimplock Fiberskyn (model numbers ending in R5-D4) fit well and is what I currently have on my quinto and conga. You might have to muffle them a bit by putting some tape on the bottom side of the head, but the heads sing. Here's a video I just recently posted. I'm playing Meinl Luis Conte Series Quinto and Conga with the heads I just mentioned. People say that a Quinto is not good for salsa or whatever, but with the right heads, tuning , and technique, you can do anything and play anything you ant with these drums. The Luis Conte's like to be tuned lower anyways. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zbDQ1-w73k

As for what Omelenko1 said, he has a good point. However, you obviously don't have to listen to him. It depends on how much you can actually do currently. If you know all your tones, have a good concept of some rhythms, but also have the ability to alter and make your own rhythms, then there's no reason why you shouldn't graduate to more drums. But if you aren't there yet, I found that it's actually more rewarding to set goals for yourself and work your way up to an ability and then to treat yourself to buying another conga when you feel you are ready. The first year I started I bought my Meinl Luis Conte quinto. The next year after I learned my tones and thought I was good enough, I bought myself the conga so I could start playing in bands. Now it's my third year and I'm getting close to buying myself either another conga or a tumba. This is just what worked for me. I found that this kept my interest level up and helped me focus more on what I was able to do, not how many drums I had. You can do alot of stuff on two drums. I'm actually debating if I should wait another year till I get my third drum. Anyways, it's your choice in the end. Hope this helps in some way.

BTW, I don't have any experience with the Tycoon Master series.

[Omelenko1]

Hello.
I am an amateur player looking to add a couple of congas to my set, to play with four. Can anyone tell me or suggest what sizes are typical in a a four congas set? I suspect a quinto, tumba, and two congas. Also, what are the opinions of Meinl artist series vs Tycoon master series as possible congas to add, and lastly, Thai oak vs white ash for shells.
Thanks.

"mrhands wrote"
"As for what Omelenko1 said, he has a good point. However, you obviously don't have to listen to him."

Yeah, you obviously don't have to listen to me. You can add 10 congas for all I care. Congas don't play themselves, you need a conguero to play them. Giovanni sounds better in one Aspire than anyone with 4 of the best congas out there. Learn a good tumbao, which by the way, takes more than 3 years to master correctly, learn to play guaguanco, 6 X 8, bomba y plena, merengue, bolero, a caballo...... Once you feel confortable with all these variety of rhythms, that are required if you want to be a proper conguero to handle any situation, then move on to adding more congas.

[mrhands]

Hello.
I am an amateur player looking to add a couple of congas to my set, to play with four. Can anyone tell me or suggest what sizes are typical in a a four congas set? I suspect a quinto, tumba, and two congas. Also, what are the opinions of Meinl artist series vs Tycoon master series as possible congas to add, and lastly, Thai oak vs white ash for shells.
Thanks.

"mrhands wrote"
"As for what Omelenko1 said, he has a good point. However, you obviously don't have to listen to him."

Yeah, you obviously don't have to listen to me. You can add 10 congas for all I care. Congas don't play themselves, you need a conguero to play them. Giovanni sounds better in one Aspire than anyone with 4 of the best congas out there. Learn a good tumbao, which by the way, takes more than 3 years to master correctly, learn to play guaguanco, 6 X 8, bomba y plena, merengue, bolero, a caballo...... Once you feel confortable with all these variety of rhythms, that are required if you want to be a proper conguero to handle any situation, then move on to adding more congas.

Everyone's different and learns differently. Giovanni is a freak, no one sounds like him. But who would want to copy? That defeats the whole purpose of learning to play an instrument and expressing what you yourself feel. I don't know if "Learn a good tumbao, which by the way, takes more than 3 years to master correctly" is a shot at me. But ultimately I find it silly to tell others what to do with their own money or how to go along their own personal musical journey.

[Omelenko1]

I'm not taking shots at anybody and like I said, there is no ill intent. You stated you are an amateur conga player. My recommendation to a person that calls himself an amateur (somebody starting out) is to master 1 conga properly. I don't tell anyone what to do with their money, anyone can buy all the congas they want. I might be wrong here, but I don't think an amateur (this is your term, not mine) needs a 4 conga set up. A 4 conga set up is for the likes of Gio, Paoli, Richie Flores, the late Anga. These guys can certainly handle a 4 conga set up, but I think that's overwhelming for an "amateur".

[mrhands]

I'm not taking shots at anybody and like I said, there is no ill intent. You stated you are an amateur conga player. My recommendation to a person that calls himself an amateur (somebody starting out) is to master 1 conga properly. I don't tell anyone what to do with their money, anyone can buy all the congas they want. I might be wrong here, but I don't think an amateur (this is your term, not mine) needs a 4 conga set up. A 4 conga set up is for the likes of Gio, Paoli, Richie Flores, the late Anga. These guys can certainly handle a 4 conga set up, but I think that's overwhelming for an "amateur".

I didn't state that I was an amatuer, I didn't use that term. You have me confused with olive.c who was asking the question and who started the thread. No biggie.

[Jerry Bembe]

Welcome Olive,

Omelenko is correct about the technique issue. This should be mastered to some degree first.

The REMO heads are easier to play and achieve good tones. Skin often has a deeper darker tone but it is often harder for an amature to achieve the tones with these. Congueros are pretty much split between REMO and Skin heads. I agree with Mr Hands here.

Personally regarding gear, I believe greater attention needs to be focused on the proper heads to match the drums and player. There is no way to figure this out except on your own though. Everyone is different.

If you wish to purchase additional drums so be it but if better technique is achieved then you will find a greater depth of tones from each drum. Regardless enjoy yourself and play with big ears and you will be just fine.

I had only 2 congas for 17 years and I did just fine with my personal development here but I consider myself just an average player. (There are many better players out there and always that will be the case.)

Keep it fun,

Jerry

[olive.c]

You guys are funny, fighting over your responses to my question! Actually, you are both right, I think, which Jerry articulates helpfully in his response. I found all comments helpful, and I take the point about technique and experience being primary and what drums someone is playing secondary. I am an amateur, but a beginner only to conga drumming. I have payed djembe for many years, and West African drumming is typically all ensemble work. Polyrhythms require others, even for the soloist. I was attracted to conga drums because I was looking for a more melodic, and more solitary approach to drumming. With congas tuned to various pitches, an individual can play a "song". This is why I am interested in multiple drums, but I realize that it will take awhile to learn sufficient technique. Thanks guys.