How to Play Congas
The congas are a fun and uplifting percussion instrument. Finding their influences in Africa and more recently Cuba, they are literally an instrument of the world. Playing the congas is an exciting and unusual hobby but takes a certain amount of practice and dedication to become a master.
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Instructions
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Have some congas. If you don't already own a conga, buy one. You can purchase congas in sets or individually. Professional musicians often have the 3 different sizes. The most common are the conga, the quinto and the tumba. If only buying 1 conga, experts recommend the mid range conga as this can produce both low and high sounds by itself.
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Invest in some tuition. Buy an instructional book or video (see resources) and watch others performing to get tips and ideas on technique and music. Professional players are few and far between, but if you live in a big city it might be worth checking local listings for tutors.
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Tune your instrument. There are no specific rules when tuning your conga as you can choose the tone and pitch yourself. Make sure that once you make a choice, all the tension points are tuned to the same pitch. Natural elements can change the heads so check these are aligned before and after every playing.
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Warm up. Before playing, stretch your arms, wrists and shoulders to avoid pulling any muscles. Do a few minutes of hand exercises and make sure all your joints are fully flexed before beginning to play.
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Let go, playing loosely will not only improve the rhythm and beat of your music but will also protect your joints. Avoid tensing your arms and wrists and relax your shoulders. Let your fingers rise about 5 inches into the air between strokes.
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Tips & Warnings
Lubricate the tension hooks regularly to keep your congas in good condition.
