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How many of you use double strokes?

I come from a kit drum background and am well-versed in them, on kit, at least. On congas I am always doing triplet rolls with heel-toe on the left and touches/opens/slaps on the right. Recently I've started to practice double-stroke rolling with heel-toe on both hands together, also with open tones, and open slap to open (leveridge).

People tell me that Giovanni demonstrates some crazy double or even triple-stroke techniques in his videos and playing.

How much use do most pro congueros make of doubling?


Simon B

Hi...Not many pros incorporate that "style" of approach on Conga. If at all it would be for "riffing" purposes. Giovanni's method has now incorporatyed "TAbla" style on conga, in his playing. It is phenominal to watch. he has "Paws" not hands.... JC JOHNNY CONGA....AT YOUR SERVICE.....

Simon,
Of course you should practice doubles. Drags and 5 stoke rolls are important although you will probably find you can do a 5 stroke with singles faster. Moving around three congas using nothing but doubles is a great warm-up and can be incorporated in your fills. Do drags, double open right, slap left, double open left, slap right on the quinto until comfortable then try alternating double open conga, slap quinto double open tumba, slap quinto. In my opinion you should try to incorporate every hot lick you have for set on congas. Of course I am not a traditionalist, but no one admires Giovanni for his folkloric style, be creative. Learn your basic rythyms for congas and fill them up with every hot lick you can until you are comfortable. The trick is keeping it all in tempo and tastefull. Now as a note, I'm not saying play hot licks constantly with other people, use them sparingly, but practice so you know how, play all of your snare rudiments on congas it helps. One more thing, if you find yourself playing with a folkloric group of people, play the rythyms they are playing with little flash or changes, that is about tradition, and it would be rude to do anything more.

:0

I have seen the following list of tumbadores using double strokes:

Giovanni Hidalgo
Dalid "La Mole" Ortíz
Richito Flores
Paoli Mejias
Javier Oquendo
Angá
Tomasito Cruz

La timba no es como ayer, mi hermano!

Saludos, Jorge Ginorio

Hey guys I'm on your side,Old skool,1st skool, New skool,it's all good knowledge to me. I use single and doubles and ruffs, in my "riffing" but not as a "style", always room to learn, and oh BTW my skool ain't dead yet!.....Mi tambor Vive! JC JOHNNY CONGA....

You forgot ...Roberto Quintero with Bobby Sanabria de Columbia....JC JOHNNY CONGA.........

Sorry i meant Roberto Quintero de Columbia, who plays with Bobby Sanabria's band. One more of the new young lions. JC JOHNNY CONGA.....

Hey Bill when are you gonna make it official and join us? JC JOHNNY CONGA....

Sure, Roberto Quintero is an excellent tumbador. He is the tumbador for Ralphy Irizarry's, Timbalaye. Roberto is from Venezuela. He is part of the Quintero dynasty of percussionists among them: Nene Quintero, Vladimir Quintero, and Luisito Quintero. All excellent percussionists.

La timba nunca ha estado muerta!


Saludos, Jorge Ginorio

JC, I registered over a year ago, don't know why I'm unregistered now. Guess I should do it again.

Hi Guys and Gals.....since we are on the topic of rudiments on congas here is a nice one u can try out.....It is the 4 stroke Ruff. Four alternate strokes, with an accent on the fourth stroke. When the left hand starts this 'ruff" ,the right hand plays the "accented' 4th stroke, and vice-versa. In other words the hand that is down on the drum, remains down, after playing the accent, and starts the "ruff" from this position. This would be in the meter of 6/8,time. 6 beats to each measure, the 5th and 6th which are 8th note rests. EX. LRL R RLR L.....At your service.....JC JOHNNY CONGA....
^ ^

I have no drumset background and much of what you folks are talking about is unfamiliar to me. Are any of these ideas depicted in the Rudiments sheets on this site (or elsewhere)?

Also, I've been using the Rudiments (1, 2 and 3) sheets found on this site for some time, but find many of them very difficult to say the least. It would really be useful to have at least some of them available as a sound file (e.g., mp3, etc).