Conga drums have their roots
in West Africa and evolved
into their present form in
Cuba where they are known as
Tumbadoras. In this
Afro-Cuban tradition there
are three main sizes of
Tumbadoras, the largest
diameter, low pitched Tumba,
the middle sized, mid range
Conga and the smallest
diameter, high pitched
Quinto.
There are no universally
accepted pitches, scales or
intervals used when tuning
congas. Each player finds
his or her own signature
"sound" by listening to the
ways more experienced conga
drummers tune their
instruments (take the time
and effort to train your
ears to really hear and
recognize the sounds) and by
exploring the nature of the
instrument (by playing it
and experimenting with it's
tuning). Some players,
especially experienced
recording percussionists, do
tune to specific pitches or
key centers (either by ear
or using an electronic
tuner) and intervals (often
combinations of 3rds, 4ths,
or even 5ths). But even they
have their own favorites.
The main goal, though, is to
create a "sound" that is
true to the nature of the
instrument when played using
traditional techniques and
that work musically within
the context in which it is
used.
There are, however, some
basic procedures and
concepts followed by many
experienced conga players
and recommended by leading
manufacturers:
-
Tune congas and bongos
in a circular movement
around the head. It
doesn't matter if you go
clockwise or counter
clockwise as long as you
continue in the same
direction as you
started.
-
Tune each lug to the
same pitch so the drums
is in tune with itself.
Again, learn to listen
to and recognize the
sounds.
-
Tune each drum to the
note that produces the
longest sustain when
hitting an open tone and
eliminates as much of
the overtone ring (the
high-pitched, "metallic"
sound) as possible.
Explore each drum's
"nature", it's best and
worst pitches.
-
Tune up or down in small
to moderate increments.
-
Tune the drum down when
finished playing for the
day. This greatly
extends the life of the
head, helps prevent the
drum from going out of
round and allows you to
tune your drum up every
time you play so that
you get to know it even
better.
