What type of instrument is a conga?

What type of instrument is a conga?

conga drum
Description. The conga drum is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels. Congas are traditionally used in Afro-Cuban genres such as conga and rumba, although they are now very common in some other forms of Latin music.

What sound does a conga make?

open tone
The most basic conga sound is called an open tone because the drum is allowed to ring after it is hit. The open sound is played at the edge of the drum using the arm and wrist together with the fingers slightly apart. Each open stroke should consist of a simple up-and-down motion of the forearm and hand.

Why was the conga banned?

During the Machado dictatorship in Cuba, Havana citizens were forbidden to dance the conga, because rival groups would work themselves to high excitement and explode into street fighting.

Why is it called the conga?

The name conga is believed to have originated from the African region of Congo, although Latin music historian Isabelle Leymarie claims that conga may have come from a Bantu word that means both song and tumult. The conga is said to be a combination of slave dance forms and the dances that came from poor Europeans.

Are conga drums loud?

Re: how loud is your conga That type cuts about 12db , you can hear everything but at a lower volume. There are some other more sophisticated but are far more expensive. Even some companys will custumize the plugs to fit your ears.

Who invented conga?

Although the exact origins of the conga drum are unknown, researchers agree that it was developed by Cuban people of African descent during the late 19th century or early 20th century. Its direct ancestors are thought to be the yuka and makuta (of Bantu origin) and the bembé drums (of Yoruba origin).

What country is conga in?

Cuba
Conga/Place of origin
Of Afro-Cuban origin, the conga is more widely known as a tumbadora, timba, or jícamo in Cuba. The conga player his or herself is referred to as a conguero or conguera. The conga is a narrow, single-head drum that comes in a variety of heights and diameters.

How does a performer play the conga drum?

The drums are played with the fingers and palms of the hand. Typical congas stand approximately 75 centimetres (30 in) from the bottom of the shell to the head. The drums may be played while seated. Alternatively, the drums may be mounted on a rack or stand to permit the player to play while standing.

Is it hard to play congas?

Popularized when Latin and salsa music made its way into America, the conga drum is an easy to enjoy instrument. A Conguero will play up to 3 congas at a time, and each drum will have a different chord. As you play your conga drum, you will find that you can create several different sounds and pitches.

What kind of music can you play with a conga?

Congas have become a popular instrument in many forms of Latin music such as son (when played by conjuntos ), descarga, Afro-Cuban jazz, salsa, songo, merengue and Latin rock .

What are the different types of conga drums?

A pair of Latin Percussion conga drums. The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest).

Who was the first person to make conga music?

The music of the congas has become a genre itself, being introduced into Cuban popular music in the early 20th century by artists such as Eliseo Grenet and Armando Oréfiche and his Havana Cuban Boys.

How is the pitch of a conga drum determined?

Conga drums are classified according to their size, which correlates to their pitch: larger drumheads have a lower pitch and vice versa. Originally, drums were tuned by adjusting knots and tension ropes on the drumhead, or, more commonly, where the drum-heads were tacked or nailed to the top of the shell, by careful heating of the head.