One-handed tumbou

[Simon B]

An idea I got off seeing Orlando Poleo play - it may well have been articulated by other top name congueros. Basically for one section of a long ten or fifteen miue solo he appeared to play a one-handed tumbou with his left hand, allowing the right to solo and riff freely. As far as I can remember he played:

h-t-s h-t-o-o

...with an eighth-note rest just after the slap. I've been trying it today - I'm sure it will be fantastic stuff to build on but I've got a long way to go!

Simon B

[Johnny Conga]

That is what we used to call "split hand" style. My first teacher George "Sabu" Caldwell could play guaguanco in his right hand on 2 congas and quinto in his left. George could also do this in odd meter time. 7 9 what ever he wanted t o play it in he could. He was the first one that I ever saw next to Candido that played 3 congas in a band. He taught me the tumbao on the right and segundo in the left hand. Try that out, if you can....tumbao in the right and segundo part of guaguanco in left...that is "split hand" style...Big Black was another one who played that way also. Chano from Cuba was also able to play that way and with 4 congas. I know that cause George had 10 78's of Chano in NYC recorded at SMC label and I heard Chano Singing ,playing guaguanco on 3 congas with his right hand and quinto in his left and singing. That is what made him so dynamic on the drum. ..JC JOHNNY CONGA... :;):

[franc]

johnny , ''conguerro mayor'' can you explain the ''split hand'' style on two congas?? can you show me in words and symbols, for ex. O oo O or l rr lr etc, etc, will appreciate your uncondicional help. thanks, aché !!! to you mi panita. my best ,franc:cool:

[Johnny Conga]

Franc I don't know if I can do this. Try and play the tumbao in your right hand, and the segundo part in your left. Or try a bembe rhythm like right hand conga left hand tumba and play

conga tumba conga
tone slap tone tone slap-----in 6/8 time
O X O O X
R R L R R but trying to play the guaguanco split hand is a bit harder to do, with the tumbao in the right and the segundo in the left. In the right hand it's a tumbao with no shuffle cause it's one handed. And the segundo is 2 beats/dos golpes. I believe it's on the and of 1 and the and of 3....Does this help?.....Abakua is also played at times split handed too.If there arent' enough drummers available. 6 against the 4...have you ever tried that? Or try playing the guaguanco on 2 drums and counter with the left hand on a quinto, and see what happens...I tried.....
JC JOHNNY CONGA...... ???

[congastu]

Nice one, Johnny- plenty of good practice material!

Heres a version of the Candomble rhythm "Cabilla" for two players both using the split-hand technique.
First player: LH on conga, RH tumba [dots represent 16th notes]
LH: ..SS.O.O.S.S..OO
RH: OOOO.S.S.S.S....
Second player: LH on quinto, RH bell
LH: OO..SS..OO..SS..
RH: X.XX.X.X.X.X.XX.
This is definately one to sit back and trance out to
Love and peace- Congastu

[tamboricua]

Nice one, Johnny- plenty of good practice material!

Heres a version of the Candomble rhythm "Cabilla" for two players both using the split-hand technique.
First player: LH on conga, RH tumba [dots represent 16th notes]
LH: ..SS.O.O.S.S..OO
RH: OOOO.S.S.S.S....
Second player: LH on quinto, RH bell
LH: OO..SS..OO..SS..
RH: X.XX.X.X.X.X.XX.
This is definately one to sit back and trance out to
Love and peace- Congastu

Hi Congastu,

For which Orixá the rhythm "Cabilla" is played for?

Thanks,

Jorge Ginorio

[congastu]

Hi Tamboricua,
Hope all is well. As far as I know this rhythm is used in relation to the Orixa Axossi, but perhaps not exclusively so. I learnt it from a friend who studied under Dudu Tucci, and he also showed me a beautiful song that accompanies
the drums. I dont think I could transcribe that over the net, however...
There seem to be a few versions of Cabilla, but usually solos are played on the low tumba and the bell part remains the same. Interestingly, this part resembles some West African rhythms where the bell goes X.XX.XX.X.X.X.X, but is misplaced to give a more offbeat feel. I actually posted these rhythms not only because they are great examples of split hand technique but also because they are great for getting your head around offbeat sixteenth notes. [The conga, for instance, played in isolation, never hits the beat].
Hope this is helpful,
peace and love, Stu

[tamboricua]

Thanks for the info Congastu. I really appreciate! I'll see if I can find Dudu Tucci's Orixás CD.

All the best,

Jorge Ginorio

[RayBoogie]

Hey gang! Theirs a clip of Giovanni playing a one handed tumbao with the shuffle (http://www.lpmusic.com). Great stuff JC and congastu.

I have the one handed tumbao (not great, but good), with the shuffle. I need to practice that tumbao on one hand and the bembe on the other. Thanks guys.