Open Slap vs Closed Slap

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Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby groovemanlars » Sat Jan 01, 2011 5:05 pm

The Tomas Cruz Conga Method (book 1) differentiates between the "open slap" and "closed slap." Anyone able to offer a better explanation (in words) or video (or audio) of the technique and application of these strokes? It seems that in the rhythms notated in the book, this open slap is rarely used ... Looking for some practical advice here.
Best,
Lars
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Re: Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby vasikgreif » Sat Jan 01, 2011 6:01 pm

Hi, what about simply doing a LITTLE search on YouTube? Sorry for being a little peevish, but this is really easy to find...

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... +slap&aq=f
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Re: Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby burke » Sat Jan 01, 2011 6:24 pm

The book comes with a DVD - in it he shows all the strokes in great detail - if your book does not have the DVD you may want to return it.
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Re: Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby Roka » Sat Jan 01, 2011 8:23 pm

But that would be an interesting thread if we put it that way -
When do you prefere closed and when open slap ?
(style, manner, tradition, feel, speed, etc ...)
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Re: Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby groovemanlars » Sun Jan 02, 2011 4:52 am

Thanks. I have done the searches on YouTube, etc, but was searching for a more conceptual take on how you (as gigging congueros) feel slap technique should be applied in the real world setting - even in, say, your playing with non-Afro-Caribbean groups. IE - where do technical differences between open slap and closed slap fit in.
Best,
Lars
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Re: Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby Miguel7 » Sun Jan 02, 2011 1:32 pm

To answer the first question, the main difference I can tell between open and closed slap is that the open slap "bounces" off the drum and allows for a little more vibration, and in the closed slap your fingers stay on the drum and just stops there. So in terms of "application" you'll probably want to use closed slaps for marcha/tumbao, merengue and other fixed patterns. In my experience i mostly just used open slap for fills or soloing.
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Re: Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby oshkoshrhythm » Fri Apr 01, 2011 6:23 pm

Miguel7 said what I was gonna.
Loving to drum and drumming to love.
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Re: Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby JohnnyConga » Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:45 pm

There are quite a few slaps on the conga...please go to youtube.com type my name in search and see How to slap the Conga drum video...
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Re: Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby Thomas Altmann » Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:14 pm

Actually, when you muffle the drum head with the other hand, like the way it should be done in order to play an accurate "marcha" (or "tumbao"), the difference between a closed slap (traditional) and an open one is not that big. Sometimes, when I have to get off the skin quickly to execute the next stroke or reach over to the other drum, I don't bother too much about closing my slap. I keep it light. It doesn't make a big difference in sound, but it gives me more velocity.

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Re: Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby joaozinho » Fri Apr 01, 2011 10:41 pm

I agree,the open slaps gives you more speed,in my opinion is litle higher in tone due to the losen skin.Timba styles uses a lot of slaps instead of open tones.
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Re: Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby Thomas Altmann » Sat Apr 02, 2011 11:26 am

@ joazinho: I was rather referring to open slaps than open tones, because the thread is about closed and open slaps.

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Re: Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby joaozinho » Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:18 pm

Yes I know,but in Tomas Cruz dvd's you listen and whatching timba style.
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Re: Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby rumbandres » Mon Apr 04, 2011 2:36 am

New to the forum here. very interesting by the way.

Yup soloing would be my main application of open slaps. Maybe a fill within a marcha could work? They do have more spoeed by virtue of being open so whenever spedd would be needed would probably be the best answer on my side.
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Re: Open Slap vs Closed Slap

Postby markab » Fri Jul 25, 2014 3:05 pm

I see that this discussion has been quiet for a few years, but my beginner question seems to belong here.

People in this discussion and elsewhere seem to be saying that they like open slaps for soloing, improvising, fills... What is it about open slaps that makes them good for those particular things? Is it simply about being faster than a closed slap, or are there other reasons?
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