How to Make a Conga Drum
Conga drums originated in Africa and traveled to Cuba through the slave trade, where they developed into the tall, single-headed drum played today. Congas are usually played in pairs, with the player---called a conguero---seated or standing behind them. While congas started out being made from hollowed-out tree trunks, logs or barrels, today's congas are made of wood or fiberglass. Drum heads come in several standard sizes, but there are no universal measurements for the body of the drum. In fact, many drummers make their own congas to fit the needs of the band they play with or the style of music they play. In this article, you'll learn how to make a square-topped conga drum using plywood. As instrument maker Bart Hopkin writes in his book "Musical Instrument Design," a straight-sided barrel drum often sounds better than rounded ones.
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Things You'll Need
- Plywood 2-by-2-inch wood strips Miter saw Hammer Nails Glue Planer Sandpaper
Instructions
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1
Select your plywood carefully. Make sure that the layers are tightly pressed together, with no openings between the plies.
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2
Cut the plywood into four pieces. Each piece should measure 8.5 inches wide at the bottom, 11 inches wide at the top and 28 inches long.
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3
Nail 28-inch strips of the 2-by-2-inch wood to the inside edges of two of the panels. These will be the front and back panels.
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4
Nail the side panels to the front and back panels, creating a box. Make sure to nail into the 2-by-2-inch wood supports as you go, spacing the nails about an inch apart.
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5
Cut two pieces of plywood to fit into the top and bottom of the box, notching the corners to accommodate the internal wood supports. Cut a circle out of the centers of these pieces; they will serve as additional stabilizers for the drum while allowing it to vibrate freely.
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Glue the stabilizers into the drum, about 7 inches from the bottom and the top of the drum.
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7
Nail two 8.5-inch bracing bars about 6 inches inside the bottom (narrow end) of the box, crossing above the long support strips and under the stabilizers at a 90-degree angle.
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8
Cut a piece of plywood measuring 8 by 8 inches. This is the bottom of the drum. Nail it in place, making sure to nail through the wood supports on the sides of the box where possible.
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9
Plane the sides of the box if you want smoother sides, or just sand them so that there are no splinters.
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Cut a piece of plywood measuring 12 by 12 inches. This will be the top and playing surface of the drum. Round the edges with the planer and sand this piece carefully until very smooth. Glue the top onto the drum, centering it on the four sides. Weight it with a book and let dry overnight. If it is not completely even, fill any spaces with wood filler and allow to dry.
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11
Paint and apply polyurethane to the drum. You can add color and strength to the drum by sanding and cleaning the drum between coats of polyurethane and applying additional coats. Enjoy playing your drum!
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