congaplace.com

Posted: **Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:31 am**

Greetings

I consider myself to be a person with above average musical ability. My problem is my single strokes are not as fast as I would like them. I am fairly proficient player and spend much of my time developing patterns that serve me well and I continue to improve with great satisfaction.

I guess what I would like to know is are there players with a similar handicap or is this an issue I MUST develop to be successful.

BTW would like to say a big THANKS to this board and its members for all the help

Keith

Posted: **Fri Apr 21, 2006 12:42 pm**

Unfortunately, there is no easy solution for this one. Daily practice is the answer. Would suggest trying extended flam rolls of about 3- 4 sec duration first, increasing speed as you go. Try this for a few days, and you will see an increase in speed. Continue to extend the roll time every day until your endurance maintains the even stroke of each hand. But..bottom line--practice and more practice. You WILL see encouraging improvement.

Posted: **Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:27 pm**

Well the only way as stated is to practice practice and practice.....start out slow and work for speed.....here is an exercise for both hands it's called 10 to 1 to 10......do 10 strokes with just your left hand first then the right hand then do 9 strokes with either hand and work your way down 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 to one stroke and then start all over again alternating each hand equally....1 stroke then 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10....alternating hands.....try that out and let me know if it works for ya .....and WELCOME TO OUR FORUM OF DRUM BROTHERS AND SISTERS!....."JC" Johnny Conga...

Posted: **Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:38 pm**

THANKYOU CONGATICK AND JONNY CONGA. I am delighted and humbled that you have responded to my post.

But I must beg the last question again. Are there any "sucessfull" conga players that do not have great speed.

James Jamerson was truly a great bass player, but you never heard him play a sixteenth note pump (mainly because he picked with only his index finger). There are many great trumpet players that did not have a good command of the upper register. Many great guitarist that did not have much technique. And on and on.

Maybe I'm answering my own question.

Musical insecurities have seemed to ALWAYS get me off my path. When attempting to play some ideas that are "over my head" musicality goes out the window (along with the joy of playing). If it don't groove then don't play it. I do not aspire to be a studio quality player, that is to say I do not intend to learn the entire universe of styles.

I don't want to sound like I am copping out. Obviously some things are a tough grind (Just like life. Amen?) Just trying to evaluate my stengths and weaknesses. On a mission to find my groove.

Thanks for listening to me vent. Maybe I need a therapist.

lucionk

Posted: **Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:42 pm**

Hey welcome lucionk,
In my first couple of years playing I had similar dilemmas. I asked my teacher at that time, "How can I play like you?" He just said, (like those before me have said) "Hey look Pavlo, there are no shortcuts. You just have to practise, practise and practise some more."

To answer your question, you don't HAVE to have great speed to play well. What is more important is your timing, your 'feel', your sounds (slaps, tones etc), your placement of the notes. However, it IS useful in many musical situations to have the chops when you need them.

Keep on jamming with other people if you can. Concentrate on the fundamentals. I hope you have teacher to study with. You do all this, I guarantee, the chops are gonna creep up on you and you will have the speed you need.

It won't happen overnight, but I can assure you (if you keep up QUALITY practise) - it will happen.

Keep pushing what you THINK are your limits!

cheers
Pavlo

Posted: **Sat Apr 22, 2006 2:36 am**

JohnnyConga wrote:Well the only way as stated is to practice practice and practice.....start out slow and work for speed.....here is an exercise for both hands it's called 10 to 1 to 10......do 10 strokes with just your left hand first then the right hand then do 9 strokes with either hand and work your way down 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 to one stroke and then start all over again alternating each hand equally....1 stroke then 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10....alternating hands.....try that out and let me know if it works for ya .....and WELCOME TO OUR FORUM OF DRUM BROTHERS AND SISTERS!....."JC" Johnny Conga...

AMEN!!!

Posted: **Sat Apr 22, 2006 6:42 am**

Lucionk..btw try those single strokes from your wrists not your arms......if u have a webcam and a mic i can give u a lesson online..."JC" Johnny Conga....

Posted: **Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:46 pm**

Lucionk,

Ah yes, the sweet frustration of it all... I think we all live with it in some way. As said-- and in my humble opinion-- timing is as --if not more- important than blazing speed. Be patient with yourself and play what you know as well as you can, savoring each baby step along the way. Perussion isn't a race, nor a contest; it is a woman who flirts with your soul using the beats of your heart as the keys to understanding the rhythms of life.

CongaTick

Posted: **Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:41 pm**

Very profound CongaTick....

I like that explanation...."JC" Johnny Conga...

Posted: **Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:33 pm**

I whole-heartedly agree with Tick and JC. Begin to work on your single stroke roll everyday for the rest of your life! There is NO rush to be great! That happens when you give up that kind of thinking. Let your practice be a sanctuary from all the negativity in the world and come to it with an open heart as you would a wonderful lover. That space will always renew you and make you feel great.
Now each time we play a tumbadora we are communicating. A great conguero is always clear and articulate. Each note has a REASON to be there and each successive note flows into the next in a smooth and logical manner, like a good conversation. Good congueros can create Africanized patterns that are as tasty, intricate, and complex as a fine French wine, a good Cuban cigar, or a Dutch Master's painting. But always start with simplicity, that's what's MOST important. Nana' Vasconcelos taught me.
First THINK about what you want to say, WHY you want to say it, HOW you want to say it, and don't forget WHO you are speaking to! It is more important to be economical and give each note the FULL musical weight it deserves.
Speed is great but beauty and elegance are much more compelling. When I was blessed to study with Glen Velez, he always made me practice VERY s-l-o-w-l-y, savoring each note like a bite of fine Filet Mignon. Any doubters merely need to listen to Jimmy Cobb's really fine work on Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" and hear how a trully MUSICAL drummer can uplift a band.......with TIME, FEEL, BEAUTY, and ELEGANCE!!! For that matter, listen to ANYTHING which Mongo Santamaria ever recorded. Mucho Sabor!!!!!! All these marvelous musicians have inspired me and kept me blissfully woodshedding for the past 38 years now. RLRLRLRLRLRLRLRL!!!

Saludos,

Berimbau

Posted: **Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:53 am**

WOW!! Berimbau and CongaTIck, you guys are philosophical monsters. That is so great. I'm trying to digest all of what you both said and put it in the proper context. I love words of wisdom like that. Thank you very much.
Mango

Posted: **Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:04 am**

What a great thread! I really like what you said Berimbau about the sacred approach to practice... YES... YES... YES

Posted: **Sun Sep 24, 2006 1:32 am**

Hi Lucionk and all drum brothers,

Berimbau, CongaTick, Pavloconga and JC (Off course!) are fully on the mark.

Speed and volume comes with practice... and more practice but as stated before "Sound" and "Musicality i.e. timing and being able to play with others" are still the main ingredients. "Slow practice means fast progress, fast practice means slow progress!" And last but not least, always enjoy what you are doing!

Happy Drumming,

Steady Freddy

Edited By steady freddy on 1159061639

Posted: **Sun Sep 24, 2006 5:11 am**

Yes as my other bros have said, practice and practice....I would like to add my 2 cents. When I started to learn , I was told to not only concentrate on the rythm and tehcnique but also to pay attention to my breathing, in order to keep relaxed. You will notice that when you loose control of what you are playing you will also loose control phisically and run out of breath. So when you practice apply the essence of the technique, clarity and slowly increase the tempo with control, when you start to loose the essence, slow down 50% and start back up and repeat , again concentraiting in mantaining clear control.

Paz OLSONGO

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