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Bongoceros:

Those of you who are traditionally oriented are probably familiar with that half time bell stroke in the style of slow 4/4 Guajira (1 stroke per measure), typically used in the verse section.

As I have never seen this effect executed en vivo, I'm not sure whether there is a standard (traditional) way to do it. Question: Are there other strokes, like ghost notes or strokes on the side or handle of the bell that fill the pattern up? Perhaps like: ||: X-xx--xx | X-xx--xx :|| or something similar? Or do you just mark the open strokes on the "1"?

Greetings,

Thomas

Greetings, Thomas,
I just play the one. It takes discipline to play so little, and do it slow and in perfect time, but it gives such a typical and uncluttered sound juxtaposed against the tumbao, tres, guiro and bass that I don't like to play any additional sounds in between. Others may play it differently. If you get fidgety, keep your personal timing strokes silent or dance while you play. Less is more.

Thank you, Jorge. It makes sense in that musical context; the power of simplicity. It demands perfect time, though - not only from the bongo player.

Thomas

Sin cadencia no hay na'.

Actually, reading your original post again, the bell is often played only every other measure on the one, even less than what you said. Varies on different songs, but the one every other measure sounds the most typical to me.

Actually I was thinking about the same thing. However, I listened back to only one example - "Guajira Guantanamera" - in the Areito recording of its author Joseito Fernández, and the campana was on "1" of each bar.

Not sure what is "more typical" ...

Thomas

In guajira o "son montuno"...like in every beat of any percussion instrument...you play the bell in the traditional manner but in slow tempo...In the bongo bell, you hit the "mouth" in 1 and 3. (4/4 bar). The other variation I've seen is that in the "mambo" or mona part or any other part of the arrangement, if a feel of "double time" is desired, the bongo player hitting the mouth in every beat of 4/4. (1,2,3,4). (Example of the latter is the mambo of Camaleon by Ruben Blades or the beginning of Songorocosongo by Hector Lavoe).,

The variatio of only hitting 1, I've heard it but is like everything else like in "son" type genres, as long as you are in clave you could do anything. (Innovative things have been done in lots of recordings but some traditionalists go crazy).

Saludos!

Raymond long time no see. Good to hear from you. How are you? On Johnny Pacheco’s “Dos De Café Tres De Azucar” recording you can hear the bongo player hitting the bell mouth in every beat of 4/4 a lot. It provides unbelievable “afinque and swing”. Also on Pacheco’s “El Faisan” tune you can hear the bongo player hitting the bell I think on the “1” like every other measure.

Ritmo..good examples...I think in El Faisan they have in the "verse part" the bongo bell hitting in the 1 every two o three bars...don't know...have to listen to it...By the way, that album, El Maestro by Johnny Pacheco with Casanova...my favorite...also for those who are bongo players....the bongo is just "prime" of great playing and tuning...(Think is Pablito Rosario...).

Nice to hear from you Ritmo...Saludos!!!