The word conga, has etymological roots in la conga, the name of a rhythm played during Cuban carnival. The conga is a tall, narrow, single headed Cuban drum which originated in Africa. It is known to have been derived specifically form the Congolese Makuta drums or Sukulu drums which are played customarily in Mbanza Ngungu, congo.
A player of the conga is called a conguero. Conga drums are an integral part of Afro-Cuban religious music and Rumba music. Congas are often used in salsa and other Latin music forms, such as punta, reggaeton, Brazillian samba and bossanova, reggae, funk , go-go and country music.
Modern congas: how modern modern congas are made and the various conga manufactured sizesModern congas may be rendered from staved, wooden or fiberglass shells. These usually have screw-tensioned drumheads. Congas usually measure approximately 75 cm from shell to head, but there are various sizes, including:
- Supertumba
- Tumba
- Conga
- Quinto
Congas are usually played in sets of two to four and may be played by a seated drummer or may be mounted to suit the standing player.
The five basic conga stroke techniques and the various tones the conga can produce
The Conga drum may produce any of the playing tones that the conga drum is known for, you must learn the five basic strokes. These are:
The open tone - played with four fingers near the rim of the drum-head.
The muffled tone - made when you strike the drum with your four fingers while you muffle the head with your other fingers.
The bass tone - played by striking the drum-head with the whole palm of your hand.
The slap - which is sometimes referred to as the floreo; is a tricky technique which produces a loud disctinct popping sound. this is used in accompaniment, to conjure more emotion from the dancer.
The touch - this is a tone produced when you touch the drum-head with the heel of your palm or with the fingers.
A skiiled conguero may bend the pithch of the drum by using his elbows to apply pressure to different parts of the drum-head after applying a stroke to it.
Most popular rhythm traditionally played on the conga along with variations played in Latin music
The marcha rhythm which is usually executed on one or more congas, is the most well known conga rhythm. There is a wide array of Latin and Afro-cuban songs which feature this rhythm and its variations. Some of these are:
- Oye como Va by Tito Puente
- Pedro Navaja by Millie Colon and Reuben Blades
- Se Le Va by Andy Montanez and Daddy Yanke
- Quizas, Quizas, Quizas, by Omara Portunondo and Teresa Garcia Cartula
- Original congas were tuned by adjusting knots and ropes which secure the drum-head ti the shell. Modern congas use are tightened with screw and lug systems.
Names of famous Afro-cuban and Latin percussionists who are masters of the conga drum
- Carlos 'Potato' Valdes
- Miguel 'Anga' Diaz
- Los Papines
- Mongo Santana Maria
- Tata Guines
- Pedro Martinez
- Chano Pozo
- Ray Barretto
- Jose Luis Quintana 'Changuito'
- Raul Rekow
- Giovanni Hidalgo
- Carlos Don Alias
- Armando Perazo
- Jose Rosa
The conga drum continues to gain popularity and relevance in many music forms and genres around the world, even though it is mostly seen as an accompanying percussion instrument.
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