CongaBook Notation Questions

[Bongo Boy]

1. On the paradiddle sheet music some notes are marked with a ">" symbol. What's it mean?

2. Instead of 'L' and 'R', some notation has 'D' and 'S'. Is this short for something like destra and sinistra?

Thanks.

[benbaboon]

hey bongo boy,
I believe the > means a slap, and that the D and S are the equivalent of R and L.
In this order? that's my educated guess based on the word Derecho and the known similarities between Italian and Spanish.... but doesn't really matter, does it?

[Bongo Boy]

I started looking at other drum notation (e.g., for snare) and it also uses the ">", so I'm thinking it's not slap, but rather a 'stick control' thing--emphasis or something.

You're right, if D and S are equiv to L and R, it doesn't matter which is which--to me at least! Just curious.

[Simon B]

The > symbol is generic notation for Accent, in other words emphasis, as you said Bongo Boy. For congas whether this means an open or closed slap, or simply a louder open tone (if playing opens) is I suppose up to you. For initial rudiment practice a good tip is to think about making the accents as loud as possible and unaccented notes as quiet as possible.

Simon B

[CongaMan]

Hi there,
you were both right....
D= destra (right)
S= sinistra (left)
(italian)

The symbol ">" is a slap.

I hope I will find the time to re-write all the rhythms...
Thanks and bye!

[Bongo Boy]

I love Italian--just another thing I've been trying to learn for a while now. Do you know why it's one of two languages supported by this forum--instead of say, Spanish? When I think 'conga', Italy doesn't come to mind. Of course, neither does Canada or France, but at least I can say I've been to Canada, and I've eaten cheese from France.

I was once going to fill a conga with cheese from France, but the cheese was very expensive so I used Feta instead.