The techniques of hand care are as
varied as the players themselves.
Everyone has their own preferences and
opinions. To give you more options, I've
decided not only to include my own
personal preferences, but the techniques
of my peers, friends and teachers. The
information in this article concerns
conga playing but this same technique
can be applied to all hand drumming.
Getting Started
If you are a beginner and just starting
to find the voice in your drum, you
should not be so concerned about hand
care at this point. Just be sure and get
off on the right "hand" by finding a
teacher who is well versed in Afro-Cuban
playing. It is important to learn proper
hand technique in the beginning. Once
this is achieved, you will find your
self practicing more and more. At this
point, you should begin to pay attention
to the care of your hands.
Hell Yes, It Hurts!
Sooner or later you'll start to develop
calluses. They will help you develop
good open tone and a nice crisp slap.
Once you are able to slap with both
hands, you will want to play all the
time! You will know when you're first
slap happens because you will feel like
you just hit a 20 foot jump shot,
"swoosh nothing but the net".
It is inevitable, you will develop
blisters! DO NOT pop your blisters. DO
NOT put tape over them.. Take a little
time off and let the blisters drain
naturally. Once the blisters have
drained, go ahead and start playing, but
don't over do it.
In the old school, Cuban players would
use their own urine to help the healing
process. Today this is called the "Me
Method" and should NOT be used unless
you have been taught the proper
techniques. Instead of urine, salt water
works just fine. The water should be
warm and as salty as the sea. Soak your
blister for 5 to 10 minutes, several
times a day. Be sure to keep you hands
clean and uncovered, exposing the
blister to open air.
Some Notions on Lotion
Once you develop calluses, it is very
important to keep them soft. There are
several ways to do this. Some players
use hand lotion, the brand does not
matter as much as the contents. Look for
lotions that contain Vitamin E, Vitamin
A, and Aloe Vera, or a combination.
Other players prefer oil. The most
popular oil for this is palm oil. Made
from palm trees, this oil high in
Vitamin A, it is often used for cooking.
In Brazil, palm oil is called olio de
dende, and can be found in Brazilian
food stores. In Cuba, palm oil is
referred to as manteca de corojo and can
be found in Hispanic markets.
There are also players who prefer plain
old Vaseline. You will need to
experiment to find out what works best
for your skin. Whatever works best,
apply it during the waking hours (when
you are not playing) and at bedtime.
Calluses also need to be groomed. Some
players use a pumice stone after a
shower or bath to file down their
calluses. Others prefer an emery board.
What you use is not important. What is
important, is keeping your calluses
under control. Pay close attention to
the calluses, especially the ones at the
first knuckle on your index fingers. You
will need to keep these calluses filed
down close to the skin, otherwise they
will be a big source of pain!
Another problem with calluses is they
can split. The splits are like paper
cuts and they can be quite painful.
Besides the lotions and oils, you can
also use "Neosporine" to help them heal.
Until they heal, you will need to
protect them. That brings us up to the
the next subject, the art of using tape
on your hands.
Tips on Tape
Some players tape their fingers only
when they are injured, others use tape
as a preventative measure. There are
several types of tape to use. One is
white medical tape, the other is sports
tape. When using either one, wrap the
tape around your finger 2 or 3 times.
Make sure the end of the tape is at the
top of your finger, near your
fingernail. This will help prevent the
drum or others fingers from coming in
contact with it and peeling it off. I
personally prefer the sports tape, it
comes in a one inch roll. This allows
you to trim the tape for a custom fit.
Some players prefer not to tape over the
knuckle joints. Keeping the knuckle
joint exposed is important if the
percussionist plays a variety of
instruments.
Congueros who play with force often like
to use a Band-Aid® under the white tape.
Most prefer to use it with the cushion
on the palm side of the finger.
Another technique, is to use adhesive
bandages instead of tape. There are
several favorite types, sheer and
flexible cloth varieties. A great
bandage for this is the Extreme Links by
Curad. This cloth bandage is 50% longer
than normal bandages with a very strong
adhesive. The method for applying the
adhesive bandages, also varies. Some
players like to cover the whole finger,
while others prefer to cover just the
sore spots. Also, some choose to have
cushion on the fingernail side while
other prefer to apply to the palm side.
Whether you use adhesive bandages or
tape, it is important not to tape your
fingers too tight. It is also important
to warm your hands up after taping them.
This can be done by warming up before a
performance. However, that does not mean
you need to start out playing hard.
Warm-up easy!
It is important to remember not to use
oil or lotion before taping your
fingers. Oil and lotion prevents the
tape from sticking.
I hope this article gives you the ground
work for taking care of your hands. As
with most things in life you must
experiment and find out what works best
for you.
In closing, I would like to thank
Francisco Aquabella, Jose DeLeon,
Ron Powell,
Armando Peraza,
Kevin Ricard, Poncho Sanchez, and
Enrigue Toussaint for their input.
Enjoy yourself, keep practicing and
playing. Always remember to Amar Atus
Manos!!! (Love Your Hands)
Con el Latir de Los Cueros, (With the
Beat of the Skins)
