How To: The Bongos

A boy plays the bongos.

While many people associate bongos with the generation of beat poets, bongos actually have been around for more than 100 years. Originating in Cuba, the two-drummed bongo is one of the basic instruments used in Salsa music. Bongos are a great instrument for the percussion lover, who finds that their portability and low-maintenance qualities make it an easy drum to have around.

Things You'll Need

• Set of Bongos

Instructions

1. Place the bongos between your legs, with the smaller drum on your left.

2. Hit the bongo with the part of the palm underneath your fingers and roll the fingers up. This creates the open tone.

3. Place your fingers together and hit one of the drums, relaxing your hand on contact. This is known as the "Slap."

4. Rest your entire hand on the head of the drum, slowly rolling from the base of the hand to the fingertips. A heel-tip sound is made.

5. Act like you are making an open tone, but keep your fingers resting on the drum afterward. This is a muted tone.

6. Using these four basic hits, create musical patterns that you like.

Tips & Warnings

• Hitting the drums in different areas will create various pitches.

References

• Dummies.com: Beating the Bongos
• Latin Percussion: Bongo Basics