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Hi All,
I just bought a new Matador Conga ( first drum). I,m wondering what order to tighten the tuning bolts.
Thanks Eric

Hi what do u have a Quinto Conga or a tumba???? If it is a quinto it is tuned to C above middle C. Conga tuned to middle C and tumba to G below middle C. This is traditional tuning for 3 congas....Hope it helps, At your Service....JC JOHNNY CONGA....

Hi,
I go all around bolt by bolt a quarter turn at a time (sometimes less at the end when it's the fine tuning stage).
-bb

If you have natural skin heads, then you simply start at one nut and procede to the next adjacent one, and so on. I also choose the starting position arbitrarily each time I go around the drum--never heard of any one else doing that tho.

When you think you're tuned up to where you want to be, many folks then press down lightly in the center of the head with one finger, then gently tap the head with the wrench about 1 inch in from the rim, close to any selected nut. Then, do the same for a the nut diametrically opposed. You'll probably hear a distinct difference in pitch. Make the two pitches the same, then repeat for the other two pairs of opposing nuts. Final objective is to get this tone the same all around the circumference of the drum.

Folks have suggested this reduces overtones--I can't tell if it does or not, but it's something to do.

Something i did was to put some tape around one of the clamps. That way i knew where i started each time i tuned...works for some, not for all.

On the subject of tuning, does anyone know whether giving the skin a periodic total slackening and leaving looose for the night before retuning following day is a good thing for the ol hide? I imagine it is and do it now and then.

Simon B

Hello Simon ...it's a good thing to "tune down' after playing . You may after awhile get some"manteca" Lard, and put a lite coat of it on the skins,when they are tuned down. After you have put that lite coat on, then sit them out in the sun for about 4 hours so it melts into the heads. wait 24 hours before you "tune up",and you will hear the skins "come alive" again. It also keeps them from cracking or splitting on you. I have had my heads on mine for over 6 years. I have a quinto with the same head on it for over 20 years. they will last as long as you treat them in this manner,and save lots of money on heads......At your Service...JC JOHNNY CONGA....

PS...that goes for Bongos too!.....JC JOHNNY CONGA

What is 'manteca' lard? I presume its not any old animal fat. Where can I get some?

Simon B

Simon B wrote:What is 'manteca' lard? I presume its not any old animal fat. Where can I get some?

Simon B

Simon, you can do the same procedure above with "manteca de corojo", which is palm oil. Can get it at your local botánica or at any African groceries store. Hope this helps!


Saludos, Jorge Ginorio

ok for those who do not live near a Botanica or African grocery store just go to your local supermarket and pick up some Lard (manteca). I'm in Seattle and there is no african grocery store or botanca that I can find. My brother is sending me some "corojo" from Miami.....any questions?...At your Service...JC JOHNNY CONGA.... PS APPLY A THIN COAT!.