How to Lessen the Noise of a Bongo

Bongos can be mounted on a stand or played between the legs or on the lap.

Bongos are relatively small drums that have wooden bodies and usually leather "skin" heads. Bongos come in pairs and are joined together by a wooden center block. You use your hands to play bongos. These drums are featured in multiple genres of music including Latin and folk. If you want to lessen the noise of a bongo drum, there are multiple ways including a commonly used technique known as muting.

Instructions

1. Place the bongos on a flat surface, such as the floor or a table top. This will significantly reduce the volume, but you may lose some tonal quality as well.

2. Strike the bongo gently using the pads of your fingers. Some songs call for forceful strikes, using finger and palms to create louder, more dramatic sounds. If you want quieter sounds, however, a gentle touch will help dramatically.

3. Mute the drum by placing one hand, thumb or finger on the left or right third of the drum's head. Strike the drum with the fingers of your other hand. When you leave part of your hand on the head as you strike with the other hand, you decrease the strength of vibrations in the drum's skin, which reduces the noise.

4. Loosen the tension in the skins of your drums. Most bongos come with a small wrench that you use to loose the bolts around the circumference of the drum's head. When you loosen the tension, your strokes will have a lower, quieter sound.

References

• Arkansas Educational Television Network: Bongo Drums; 2006
• Pete Lockett: Pete's Bongo Basics; Pete Lockett