Congas Vs. Timbales
Congas and timbales play a central role in the popular and folk music of Latin America and the Caribbean. Both drums produce highly distinctive sounds.
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Sound Quality
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Congas are the largest hand drums in Afro-Cuban percussion. Generally, the conga has a full, wooden timbre. In orchestral music, congas are usually played with soft-tipped mallets.
Timbales are middle-range drums in Latin American music. They produce a piercing, hollow, metallic tone. Sounds are produced by striking the head, rim shell with a pair of non-tapered wooden sticks. In orchestral music, the drums are sometimes used for high tom-tom sounds.
Features
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Congas are normally used in sets of two, three or four sizes producing different pitches. The shells, made of wood or fiberglass, taper at both ends and are approximately 30 inches deep. Head diameters vary but generally measure 10 inches for the highest drum, 11 inches for the middle drum, 12 inches for the conga and 13 inches for the "tumba" or "tumbadora."
Timbales consist of a pair of shallow, single-headed metal shells with head diameters of 13 and 14 inches or 14 and 15 inches. They are suspended on either side of a vertical rod.
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Origins
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The conga is believed to be African in origin and is similar to cone drums in some African cultures.
The timbales are believed to have been a portable adaptation of the kettle drum. The French word for a set of these drums is timbales.
Performance
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Both the congas and the timbales are highly suited to soloing. In Afro-Cuban music ensemble settings, low congas often play a repetitive line known as a "tumbao."
Timbales tend to be used for accents, ghost notes and fills.
Famous Ties
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The conga is most often heard in Afro-Cuban music. Famous performers include Jose Luis Quintana ("Changuito") and Giovanni Hidalgo.
Multi-instrumentalist Tito Puente is perhaps the most widely known personality associated with the timbales.
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