How Are Bongo Drums Made?
Bongos are a set of two wooden drums with traditional skin heads that are attached by a wooden block. Although bongo-like drums are found all over the world, including the Middle East and India, the bongo drums are generally considered to be a Cuban instrument brought there from Africa through the slave trade.
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History
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The first Cuban bongo drums were made of wood, joined in the middle and had animal skin heads which were tacked on using heat. Each drum was and still is referred to with two names: the "macho" (male) is the smaller drum and the "hembra" (female) is the larger drum.
Construction
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Both modern and traditional bongos are made of a thick, wooden shell with a wooden block joining the hembra and macho. The shell can be carved from a single piece of wood or several pieces of wood joined together by metal bands, much like a wooden barrel. Modern bongos have metal tuning hardware added that not only makes tuning much easier, but it also braces the drums and makes them stronger.
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Drum Heads
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Some modern players still use animal skin heads because of their unique, warm sound. However, they are very susceptible to changes in the temperature and humidity. Most modern bongos are set up with synthetic heads from the factory. Synthetic heads are impervious to changes in weather, are more durable than skin heads and can handle higher tension. Higher tension results in a higher pitch and more projection, which can be preferable for certain styles of music.
Common Problems
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When making a set of bongos there are three crucial parts of the drum that must be in place to ensure a good sound. First, the drum must be perfectly round. This may sound obvious, but cheap handmade drums are often slightly asymmetrical, which affects sound. Second, the bearing edge where the drum head makes contact with the drum must be totally smooth and cut at a 45 degree angle. Also, the wooden block that attaches the two drums must be tightly secured. If it is loose, the drums will be moving around and difficult to play.
Handmade vs. Factory-Made
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People often expect to pay more for handmade bongos on the pretense that they offer a better sound. However, factory-made drums actually have some advantages. They are made very consistently because the shells and bearing edges are carved out by computer-controlled routers, so if they are lost or broken, a new set can be bought with little change in sound. Also, if anything breaks on a factory-made bongo, replacement parts are a phone call away.
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References
- Photo Credit bongos image by dead_account from Fotolia.com
