How to Do The Perfect Slap on Congas
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2024
- FYI! This is NOT a technical tutorial! Just giving my take on the value of your Slap. Yes, there is a technical way on doing multiple versions of "The Slap", but embrace your own tone and sound.
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Thank you for that great explanation on how everyone has there own style of slapping a conga drum.Not taking away from anyone every player has there own tone and sound.keep up the good work
Eddie Montalvo Nooooo Thank you!!!! Seriously!!! You’re the Pioneer here! Thank you so much for those words! I’m humbled!
Remember Joe Cuba slap specially on "Tartara"?
Eddie Montalvo that is BS, you give this guy props because he shouts out to you. Overall this lesson is BS and Cubans would laugh at your BS. Stay in your lane and just play you even bow down to BS LP and suck it for some cheap free congas..
I started playing around with all kinds of percussion instruments as a kid in Puerto Rico in the early 70s (I’m 60 yo now). If you could shake it, scrape it, or hit it, I tried it. Congas were and still are my all time favorite, but I was never formally trained. When I was young it was all about just reproducing the rhythms and decent sounds, but disregarding the proper use of the hands. So I never learned the closed slap technique, and resorted to ways that hurt my fingers. A few months ago I got a new set of congas, and I have been working on fine tuning my technique, which is why I watched this video. I agree wholeheartedly that the best closed slap is unique to the conguero. But disagree with some of the comments that imply that “there is no wrong way as long as you produce the high pitched slapping sound needed to just sound good”. If the movement has the potential for injury, then it’s wrong; if the slap happens far from where one hits the open, then it’s wrong because it limits how fast you can transition. That’s just 2 examples but the point is that there are certain features of the closed slap that are consistent in good slaps, and things that are consistently absent from good slaps. So, while I agree that everyone is different, there is right and wrong when it comes to the manner in which a closed slap is executed. I’m not a professional, but I have been a close observer and enthusiast my entire life. Individuality/uniqueness is part of every conguero, but let’s not overstate this by implying that any technique is ok so long as the sound is acceptable. Acceptable sound is only one aspect IMHO.
Really appreciated this perspective, especially coming from such a technically sound Percussionist. I do think there are certain accepted ways of producing sounds and techniques, but everyone has the right and ability to build and make their own style. Keep doing ya thing bro, forget the haters per usual lol
Nathaniel R. Torres, Esq. haha my man! Thanks for the love and support Bro!
A Percussion Life ...great perspective Bro. There will always be people trying to convince others their way is the right way. One thing I learned from studying under masters from other cultures in the the world...there's more than one way to play a drum!
I once auditioned on congas for a salsa band here in England - the only time I’ve auditioned not on drum kit. The other percussionist, who I think was Columbian, kept stopping the band to “correct” my technique, and it really frustrated me because what he played sounded just like what I was already doing, only he achieved the same sounds as me with different techniques and he insisted that I should play exactly like him, which I couldn’t do because I’d developed my own technique over decades! I wasn’t at all upset that I didn’t hear from the band again, as I don’t think I could’ve ever worked with that guy! Hearing you talk on this video confirms that I was right to think he was wrong to criticise my technique 😊🪘
You said it Brother, everyone has their own way of approaching the same thing, which in turn sort of makes it their own. GREAT POINT !!!... to many people are way to quick to criticize. To me, I say, does it sound good, is the person jamming, then job well done... love how you break it down and simplify. Keep doing what you’re doing hermano... Peace, Love, and Respect...🤙🏼
It’s great video as you clearly explain that each conguero have its own way of slapping.
I really enjoy all your videos! Keep up the great work!!!
Thank you!!!
Wow. This really freed me up. I was spending too much time trying to make it sound "right" instead of making it sound "good". In the drum set world, we embrace those who do things their own way. There's not as much dogma on how to do it "right".
Although I understand your point about not judging how people do the slap, having initially learned congas on the street I have to say that there is a “proper” way to ensure that you don’t hurt your hands. On the street I was playing the edge of the drum. Later, when I got some professional training I learned to hit more towards the center. Big difference.
As always your generosity is amazing.
Probably the most important thing as a musician is to be able the correct sound for the style, but above that, the most important thing is to not get injured in the process.
Who says he "has" to play
I never knew that his channel was dedicated of him just playing congas or any percussion insturments and THATS IT.
Cant a man give his opinion? Or teach? Or simply talk to his suscribers?
If you guys dont like it I dont understand why even bother to comment. Shoot its HIS channel not yours BUT HIS and he can do whatever HE wants. whether its playing, talking, heck and if he wanted to he can show a video of his baby boy. If you guys dont like it well theres the Unsuscribe button,
Oh and also i love how he said he was gonna get hate over this. But hey haters gonna hate. Anyways man i loved this video, I learned a lot.
Hi Eddie, i really like your perspective, i have spent months trying to improve mine, watching you and others conga players (including Eddie Montalvo, which BTW is really weird, but that's the way he does and who on earth can come an say he's doing wrong ?). And i embrace your point of view. What works for you could no work for me. If I find my way that is all.
Thanks for posting this. I've been trying to get out of the habit of slapping on the edge of the conga, but it's just that I've always gotten a higher pitch/projection and is why it's hard to break. I've been improving on slapping what is called properly but some times slip and catch myself going back to slapping how I have in the past... I
You totaly right, the perfect slap is your slap. the most important is that nice sound slap. Thank you Rico
Well said dude! And I loved your impression near the beginning haha!
It all comes down to where the music comes from and the judges are the people who have created that sound or rhythm or genre...this guy has a cool perspective and it depends on what rhythm you are playing no hate just love!!!!
I was in Cuba recently to learn percussion with Rolando Salgado Palacio (of Afro-Cuban All Stars). Even though I had been progressing quickly until the time I worked with him, I found myself having to re-do much of my technique. However, I was extremely happy and excited, because his instruction did two very important things:
1 - Produced significantly clearer and thicker sound (especially in the slap), rather than a soft sound that initially gives you speed but relies too much on amplification. To develop speed more naturally, he gave me lots of exercises to develop speed in the proper way. That will take lots of time but it's better than trying to be fast by skimping on doing full tones.
2 - He gave my playing LOTS of economy. Everything from the arm/elbow/wrist/finger positioning and spacing had a legitimate purpose to allow for the previous or next tone to work seamlessly, as opposed to trying to change the hand positioning dramatically in a fraction of a second. This also had a huge part in protecting the integrity of my hands. There are very small bones in the hand (and lots of them), so breaking something with poor technique is far too easy.
Basically, yes there are "unique" ways that people play hand drums, but that only works for those specific people after they've conditioned themselves for a long time (whether they taught themselves or got sloppier over time). The advice of "just do it your own way" is not very sound advice to give to anyone--as Shaka Zulu mentioned, there are certainly "absolutes" that someone's playing technique has to have, and making it an emotional issue rather than a practical one isn't helpful.
Great observation. I'm so psyched for my first trip to Cuba and will look up Salgado.
U got a cool urban conga style, very hip!
Yes, it's cool and all that there are so many people finding their own way to get that much desired high pitch tight slap sound that cuts thru and that we look for in someone's playing but there's a reason why one way has become the standard, technique is so very important to your health, a crappy technique can cut your life as a conguero short, it can virtually destroy your hands, a good solid technique is very important for any instrument
You are a great teacher thanks for all your vidz they are always encouraging. Keep 🙌
Good advice with a sense of humour too!
Lol this continues to elude me, whether it's djembe or conga. To me, this is the sound that helps distinguish who is pro vs who is more casual. I wanted to see more of how you actually get the sound, no matter where you hit the drum... Some say you need callouses, others say that you should pee on your hands, etc. At the end of the discussion, I have respect for people who get this sound, esp if it looks effortless.
Thank you for this video. Veeery helpful. I waas going crazy trying to get my stuff together. Still do, but you helped a lot!
from a tendon injury to a finger i could bend only half of it and must regularly stretch it to prevent it from curling permanently. my passion playing congas and bongos is greater than before
Love your knowledge of the congas.. I'm here also in the Dmv would love to have a workout session with you as I am a gogo player by origin
I heard if you can't perfect a moose call you don't belong near a conga haha
Thank you new to the channel and I like your videos I almost do a Djembe slap but I play congas Laundry Express Yourself in that moment and you breaking up the beat it's all good I been trying to learn how to slap using both hands perfectly I am a right-hander slot player trying to learn to slap with my left and right at the same time keep up the work it is appreciated
I agree. When I was trying to get the slap down. I watched this congero, that congero, but when I finally got it. It was different than anyone else. Now matter what instrument we play. We all develop our own sound. If we all did it the same, music would be robotic and boring.
I'm great on other instruments but for hand percussion I am a neophyte, so I have to out myself as an amateur on congas. With my decades in music I can pick up a lot of stuff very fast - rhythms, fills, etc, One thing I'm working on is a serious popping slap and am looking for some better videos than I've seen elsewhere on TH-cam. If you could show us how (as in "how to do the perfect slap") that would be cool. Some of us have low-end drums and perhaps not the best heads, and a nice clear pop can be a challenge, regardless of who we want to sound like. Perhaps a straight forward "how to" would be helpful. (And maybe you could do it using crappy drums like many of us learners have.) Thanks..
Son diferentes sonidos porque apoyan la fuerza en distintos lugares. No pude ver que lo ejecutaras de la manera correcta ya que apoyas fuerza en la mano y en la almohada, hay personas que golpear fuerte pero solo se dañan, el secreto es estudiar bien que produce el sonido: hay slap tipo galleta que apoya la fuerza en la yema de los dedos pero levantando el centro de la mano haciendo una letra L que usa Diego Galé. También está el que concentra la fuerza en las falanges que es el mas agudo que usa Eddie Montalvo. Hay otro Slap al centro que se usa para tocar merengue, y es similar que usa la tambora.
Eric, thanks so much for saying everyone has a different way to slap for I have been abused bullied at school over how I slap on congas as well as my crazy fluttering freestyle conga bongo drumming plus droped out of school just went through horror at that school the meanest of kids & teachers that would not treat me with respect plus it was the best thing that I ever did! Yeah my fluttering hands with my slaps is me love to be creative & create my own style along with traditional techniques of bongo & conga drumming so no matter what anyone says love my style of playing & you Eric got to check me out!!!! I am crazy but you gotta love it!!!!♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
I have a blast with the slap
That's so true, cool brother
Mad respect for the video bro
I've got short, stubby fingers, so my slap doesn't have a lot of area or mass behind it. I was forced to find a hand position that maximizes rim impact so I hit at a 90 degree angle across the rim in order to get the needed volume. This forces me to 'chicken wing' my elbow a bit more, making my left arm more tired than my right after a night playing. I'm sure I could benefit from a lesson from a player who has been doing this for years, just to ensure I'm playing ergonomically and efficiently, so I booked a PERCUSSION trip to CUBA in March. Hope to meet some of the world's greats and pick up lots of pointers.
What's missing here is the fact some slaps are more dangerous than others for new players.
I thought it was a great video although the title is a little bit misleading keep up the good work 🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕ps in my opinion there is a right way and a wrong way but you're right some people get the sound the wrong way some people get the sound the right right way Soooooo the trick is to get the sound.
erikpiza piza Thanks bro!!! Appreciate it coming from you!
Exactly. If you get that cutting sound, I say it’s all good...
I am agree with you. You are correct.
What is your opinion of Joe Cubas slap?
Do you have another video how to do the conga slap? You never described actually how to do it in the first place.
th-cam.com/video/qD7CcNKKIBA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=dCkL--TxAurhMk61
Hey, I didn’t know you are from the DC Area. I Love your channel Man, I just started playing Congas and learning some basic rhythms. I live in Washington DC and Listen to Go Go music but enjoy Latin and Salsa Music as well. I’m glad you explained the slap because a lot of Go Go percussionists are accused of improper technique. But I agree with you, you should own your sound and embrace it. Thanks for the video, all of your videos are great.
Great job Bro
Anyone know if Eddie Montalvo has talked about how he uses his ring fingers? Something I have noticed, especially from the video clip used here.
Thank you absolutely right thanks nice day
My question is two how do you season your Congress I have a teacher my uncle he he this season I make that he told me it's kind of this whatever seasonings are out there
Estoy seguro de que el nombre original de este sonido NO era " slap " palabra inglesa .Ya me imagino a los cubanos llamàndole slap a este golpe , es de risa .Por favor que un verdadero conocedor nos ilustre acerca de el verdadero nombre de este golpe .Gracias por adelantado .
i wanted to say perfect slap is your own slap
Gracias por tu video hermano es muy bueno hablar de la gogo que es muy rica tambien. Es verdad que hay muchas maneras de tocar ls tambores, varios estilos en Africa y America. Depiende de las manos de la persona tambien. Y hay que buscar mucho tiempo nuestro propio sonido y lo que conviene el mas. Ya he pensado a invertirme en mano izquierda porque tengo un mejor sonido con esta mano... Un camino dificil ;)
You're absolutely right though. A slap is a slap, speaking from the perspective of the sound itself. Every single factor affects playing, the size of your hand, your finger strength, size of drum, etc. It's foolish to think that every person can do it the same way. The only time I tell people to change their approach is when they are doing something that's limiting their speed or sound. Otherwise slap away!
Misleading title but completely agree with you.
doing a great slap is not difficult. but it takes lots of practice to do that consistently
hay man that`s so true and so
cool !!
Amigo muy interesante pero sugiero que los más vídeos en español para los que no hablamos inglés.
i love Montalvo Sound and his slap , thats the way he does it and it sounds good , play what makes you feel good , you mess up in this video cause it dont make much sense ,
😂😂😂En el minuto 153
...Tan Yo A Veces 😂
Your so funny bro.
The drum must be above cheap if you really mean successive slaps without having one hand down tightening the head. So in this economy a lot of stressed young guys will be buying drums that are anti slap drums…$550 and below drums are anti slap. And no….it’s not you young dudes….it’s the rotten drum.
😡 SMH
Good info, I'm sure, but too much irrelevant blah blah blah.
Can you at least pronounce the name of the drum correctly?
John D You doubled spaced “at least”
So can you at least learn how to type
he is humble, ass wipe.
Hey A Percussion Life, sabías que el maestro conguero Eddie Montalvo sufre de artritis en los dedos y padece de dolores al tocar??? Sabías que por esa enfermedad, debe "acomodar" los dedos, "esconderlos" para evitar esos dolores???Seguro no lo sabías!!! Respeta y no te mofes, no te burles!!!Did you know that the master conguero Eddie Montalvo suffers from arthritis in his fingers and suffers from pains when playing??? Did you know that because of this disease, you must "accommodate" the fingers, "hide" them to avoid those pains ???
Surely you did not know! Respect and do not mock, do not mock !!!
Hola... Perdon que esto le ofendio a usted... pero yo SI lo sabia... Y si usted puso atencion al mensaje que dije... Aun le llame el Rey del Tumbao... aun con su forma de ser el slap... Al yo intentar de ser el slap de el me estaba burlando de mi mismo diciendo quien somos nosotros de criticar el slap de alguien cuando Alguien como Eddie Montalvo hace un slap fuera de lo que nosotros llamamos normal y el siendo el Rey del Tumbao... So por favor le pido discupla si usted no recibio ese mensaje del video...
El mismo Eddie Montalvo lo felicita por su explicación. El solo esta tratando de decir que cada uno tiene su estilo propio así hagas el slap con la pinga! Si te suena bien síguelo haciendo! Y no critiques tanto.
This video is a let down. I thought you were going to give some real ideas and technique for how YOU approach the slap.
Instead we got a sissified whine about not judging blah, blah, blah.... sad.
I can't believe you would include go-go players in your video and claim their slap is OK or even relevant when they are tearing their hands up with terrible technique while getting a tinny, thin sounding slap. No way - that's terrible advice.
While we all have different hands there are 2 absolutes one must use when practicing and acquiring their slap sound.
1) The sound - it is everything. If your sound is bad you're doing it wrong. There are a million vids by latin music pros that show you how and what the sound should be. If you're getting a thin, soft or even shallow tone then your slap is not complete and you may need to start over entirely and relearn.
2) The technique relating to hand comfort/protection is essential. If you are curving your hand sideways, cupping your palm too much or slamming your hand into the drum and feeling any discomfort at all - you are doing it completely wrong and immediately begin a NEW approach.
True, I've seen people cupping their hands and i don't know how they can even get a sound out of that, and I find it uncomfortable. But what I've found is that a lot of people have a hard time slapping because the drum is out of tune, if the skin is too loos, you can forget getting a good slap even if you are good at it, so tuning is important
The problem is that too many who teach, are more concerned with students getting the really high sound on the first try instead of showing them the right technique, no one is going to get that on the first try, slaps don't always have to be high anyways, I have my own rhythms which I like better with a lower slap. But what ever you are going for the proper technique is the most important at first, start slow, take your time, it will come.
In this 5:07 video, he talks 5 minutes and plays .07
Bro I don't want to knock on your hustle but bottom line is you have to do more playing and less talking, and please, don't use Montalvo, Galé, or any other percussionists as bait. Demuéstrale a todos lo que TÚ sabes, y no lo que ya está hecho y reconocido. Good luck.
Sobre todo, NUNCA burlarse de otros congueros reconocidos! Menos aún, cuando esa burla es muy poco inteligente ya que el maestro Eddie Montalvo sufre de artritis o artrosis, lo que causa mucho dolor en los dedos por lo cual debe emplear mañas para "esconder" ciertos dedos y seguir tocando...El maestro Giovanni Hidalgo estuvo a punto de perder los dedos de una de sus manos debido a su diabetes...
Tumbador66 papito tu puede hacer lo tuyo pero de alguien hay que aprender y de ahí salen las escuelita como se dice por ahí
u miss understood
no entendiste amigo
Seriously, I just wasted 5 minutes of my life.
Koryuhoka You wasted another 35 secs. typing that comment