Starting out - Got Advice?

[Pearlie-O]

I'm just getting started....any recommendations on brands to buy....don't want to spend too much. I just saw some LP congas and bongo set with stands for $275....good price?

[yoni]

Hello Pearlie-O!

I'm not familiar with prices much these days, but if you can afford the $275 and like the set, why not? LP makes great stuff as do others; sounds like $275 could be a very good deal. Do you know which LP models the drums are?

[Ivan]

Perlie-O,
Welcome to the forum. For $275, you can purchase a BEGINNER set of congas with stands. If you plan on being a professional in the percussion field, you will eventually want to upgrade. Starting out is the most important thing. For $275.00, you can find a lot of beginner series congas from almost any brand. The most common one that comes to mind is LP's aspire congas. You should check out ebay as well. They have a lot of beginner congas for sale all the time. once you begin to develop your relationship with latin/world ryhthms you will eventually want to upgrade.

Congratulations on your decision to explore the conga world.

Good luck on your new endeavour.

Ivan

[otto]

Hello Pearlie-O
Welcome to the site.
I just started myself last January I got a set of LP Perfomer series Congas I paid about 430.00 for a set of three drums, I had tried out the LP Aspire series and found the Perfomer series to be a better buy. They sounded much better then the Aspire and it was just a little more.
Check the Giutar Center or MusiciansFriend.com they have them on sale all the time.
I treated the skins as Johnny Conga advised they sound great.
Its only about 150.00 more so you may want to consider it.
Good Luck
Happy Drumming
Otto

[Raymond]

You should check here our comments in old threads or posts regarding beginner's sets. Some come with "odd" (not professional) sizes for congas and for bongos and some come with at least the bongos been at least pro sizes. The problem, first, the heads are not quality and the sizes for them are hard to get, therefore, you are not going to get a good sound and have a hard time finding some good ones, and second, if later you want to go all the way, you have to find who will buy that beginner's set, so you could purchase your pro set.

LP Aspires???? Although priced pretty good, they are the classic examples of what I say. I think if you are going beginner set go Pearl Primero that at least you get a pro size in your bongos. (They are priced similiarily to LP Aspires, although Pearl Primero has a Pearl Primero Pro line that has better hardware and cost a little bit more but is worth it because the conga stands are basket types which are easier to handle).

Check this link to give you an idea about Pearl Primero's beginners set.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7....&c=9240

The regular Pearl Primero's are priced pretty good for a set.

Here is your link for LP that includes the Aspire and "Performer Series

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7....&c=9240

Compare them and let us know....

Saludos!



Edited By Raymond on 1107982317

[JohnnyConga]

WELCOME Drum Sister Pearlie-O.....Hello Otto...Yoni....Raymond....I've been here all the time, but we have such an informed family here, even I like to read others post's of wisdom and guidance....heys guys and gals ,have u seen the NEW Pearl's "Lunar Blaze"congas, they glow in the dark!....goto PearlDrums.com...it's featured at the NAMM show, with photos of "the cats" from Pearl.....I'll make it next year. I am finally also going into the studio, next week, to start work on my next music project...I will be playing original material of my own on Vibes/congas/timbales/bongos,added perc. Collaborating on it with me, will be Julio Jarregui-piano player and arranger here in Seattle(I'm using his studio). I have been performing locally with Michael Schrieve-Santana drummer-and his band TangleTown. Michael is planning something for the band, which may be a tour. So I have been a bit busy. You can still tune into my radio show online at http://www.kbcs.fm...at 6pm PCT 91.3FM-"AL LADO LATINO"....."JC" Johnny Conga.... :;):

[JohnnyConga]

PS ...that's on SATURDAYS!!!...."JC"

[jonty]

I just received an early and really cool birthday present- a Natal Spirit series Conga + Quinto with stands. Although I play percusiion occasionally, I have been totally stick bound until now. But in three days, I have played about 12 hours!

I was wondering if there are any really good learning materials available - there are not too many hand drumming teachers near where I live (in fact there are none!)

I am having a lot of fun, but I can tell I haven't got the right technique, and I don't want to get into too many bad habits before I can play something worth performing! Any advice or tips woill be gratefully received - I am under strict instructions to be ready to play with a pro band at my party end of April! (I love a challenge, but don't order the Live CD just yet )

[bcoffee13]

Jonty .... I am a newbie also. On eBay I purchased a conga training dvd by Tomas Cruz. The course is on 3 dvds and books but it is by far the best that I have seen. Set aside classroom time at home and really practice with the instructor. Eventually you should get some other videos or dvds from different instructors because they can each teach you something new. I also watch regular concerts but I focus on the conga player and drummers to try to learn something. I have been at this for a year and I only practice once every two weeks. Yet I notice that I am getting better. My tones are cleaner, my endurance is better, also I can play several different tunes and rhythms. The first year of learning seems slow but keep at it! I also advise you to take music lessons even if it's not congas. I am in a Brazilian samba percussion class and that somehow is helping me with my conga playing! It's actually teaching me how to play with other people in time and also how to create rhythms on the fly.

[Isaac]

The Tomas Cruz Conga Method Vol. 1 is one of the most complete guides for the beginner. Also a lot of exercises
for the intermediate player as well. I highly recommend
it. It will raise the bar for new players.
~ ISAAC~ Funky Tradition
Rep. for JCR Percussion Co.

[ricky linn]

Hi Jonty

I live in Scotland so i'm kind of in the same boat with lack of teachers and stuff. The best book to start with is The essence of arfo-cuban percussion and drum set by ed uribe which you can get from amazon it's not cheap but it's massive. I initially spent a fortune on books and very few of them were accurate with what I was actually hearing the Cuban guys playing on recording but the Uribe book is very accurate. I'm a good few years down the line now and have sudied 3 times in Havana and very rarely found any discrepancies in this material. It's definately the best place to start in my opinion.

Ricky



Edited By ricky linn on 1111950359

[ralph]

also you may want to hit some local pawn shops, you can sometimes find a decent starter set.
Starting out also depends on what your interest is is, whether it be more folkloric music, or latin jazz, or salsa, or merengue.
or just general latin percussion?