My first solo attempt - audio only clip

[bongoron]

Hello everyone! I think i finally got a shorter version uploaded to photobucket:

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v398/ronboskz650sr/?action=view¤t=conga.flv]http://smg.photobucket.com/albums....nga.flv[/url]


Please try this with your high speed connection and let me know if it works.

I have no formal instruction whatsoever, so friendly criticism will be applied to my next attempt to the best of my limited abilities. I have played in a church band for 3 years, a Christian rock independent band just this year, and only know what I do. As humbling as this is...the audio is a pretty fair sample of what I can do, and it's just all made up as I sat if front of a single overhead condensor mike. I chopped out the first 2.5 minutes which were warmup followed by a five second pause...that made it possible to upload it in a little over 30 minutes on my snail connection. Sorry about all the loud breathing...just a guy and three congas in a room. The first segment is one drum, followed by the other two for a while.

I am seated, the congas are on carpet, it's one take, one mike...just minimal reverb and doubling for a little stereo pseudo image affect.

Scary as it is, I submit my first ever effort at conga soloing...even with all the pros on the board...GULP!
Thanks for listening.


God bless!

-Ron



Edited By bongoron on 1160166803

[rhumbatumba]

You've got the right idea bongoron... keep it up. how long have you been playing? Have you studied with anyone at all?

[bongoron]

Just under three years. No formal..just "monkey see monkey do " from internet videos, and playing along with cds. I am in two bands, but neither one presents much opportunity for solo work..just quick fills and transitional measures, etc. This is my first try. I've seen the videos here, but have no idea how these guys do those things. Still, they inspire me to keep trying, as lessons are not in the budget just yet (new job after some unemployment), and would probably be too far away anyway. Long answer to a short question...no formal training except on trumpet and vocals.

God bless!

-Ron

[Jongo]

Hey Bongoron, it takes guts to put yourself out there so props to you for being willing to do it. I am not really qualified to critique anyone's playing as I am no expert or professional myself but I will share a few thoughts with you. It sounds like you have good articulation with slaps and open tones but it is a little hard to tell because of the mic but it sounded like you have it. That has always been stressed to me because if you are "speaking" with your congas but you don't have good articulation you are mumbling.
My style of playing is different so I would play different phrases and stuff but that's me. I don't really have the expertise to give you much feedback there but keep listening to your favorite groups and pick up what they do

[bongoron]

Thanks. I will use a different mike on the next try, or move this one into a close mike position instead of overhead. Or I may go nuts and individually mike them...I have the equipment, just kindof got a spurt of motivation and threw this one together before I lost it LOL.

Then you can compare and let me know...and yes, it is scary. It's very possible the pros will speak with their silence...they are pretty classy, and might not want to hurt my feelings. Either way, I will surely learn something, and that is what it's about for me at the moment. I got into this pretty late in life (started playing at age 46 1/2, and I just turned 49 in august). Thanks for the reply.

God bless!

-Ron

[bongoron]

Here is the 2 minute+ warmup I did when I walked into my recording room and got the idea to try it. The mike gain is a little different because I listened, changed it after this, and tacked the other solo onto the same track to save time...just trying to minimize the breathing, but it didn't work anyway.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums....mup.flv

Thanks for listening

God bless!

-Ron

[pavloconga]

Hey Bongoron,
Like Jongo said it takes guts to put yourself out there as a relatively new player.
For someone who has started late in life and mostly self taught I think you're doing very well. I can hear the different sounds (slaps, tones) pretty clear. Are you familiar with muffled tones? Try and incorporate them into your playing too. Keep on exploring the congas and keep up the practise, jamming and playing with other musicians! You're on the right track bro.
Pavlo

ps could not listen to the first clip as it kept on asking for a password with your username...

[bongoron]

Thanks, I'll try incorporating muffled tones. Please refresh me on exactly which one that is...I know, I should know that...is it the "drop" type tone where your hand kindof flops dead onto the center of the head?

Don't know why it asked for your password...I pasted the same window for both clips...maybe the shorter one is better .


Thanks again for listening and the encouragement. It's difficult when you have no concrete goal , regarding the instrument itself. I know that is a flaw in my musicianship at the moment. My overall goal is the ministry of my band, and it's very clear. I am trying to improve my conga knowledge and ability, though...and have recieved a really cool PM offer for some free tapes and a jamming invitation. That will help me bump it up a notch on the traditional roles of the instrument/ player and basic rhythms I just don't really have any grasp of yet. Because of my band, I guess I focused on skills first to get us out there...kindof backwards. I'm sure I will have to undo some bad habits, but that is something I'm prepared to do. My training as an Air Force aviator really helped me "learn how to unlearn" things that can be done a better way...I may just need to do some of that when I see the videos. Lessons are still not in the budget, so the cool offer is so outstanding , and it's the best I can do for a while.

God bless!

-Ron

[verticalgil]

FOR SOMEONE THAT DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT A MUFFLE TONE IS I THINK IS OK.DOES NOT TAKE MUCH TO BE A SUPER CONGA MEMBER. ???

[whitemanplay]

well just be glad you had at least one comment about your conga samples Ron, I posted a thread on my new schallock congas samples and have not got one response. I bet if I had purchased a set of Gio's or top notch pearls I woulda got a ton of comments though. This isnt suprizing because most people in the world today are partial anyway.

[bongoron]

well just be glad you had at least one comment about your conga samples Ron, I posted a thread on my new schallock congas samples and have not got one response. I bet if I had purchased a set of Gio's or top notch pearls I woulda got a ton of comments though. This isnt suprizing because most people in the world today are partial anyway.

I apologize. I finally got your second clip to download...and I liked it. I have a set of three schallochs and greatly enjoy them. My connection is so slow it's unbelieveable. I guess I just forgot to post. Please forgive me. If you look at the number of replies compared to the number of hits on many of the threads here, you'll see very few get a large number. Busy people, taking a peek and moving on.

As for the muffled tone..I recall reading about it a couple of years ago...much to read and lots to remember...I just forgot what it is specifically, but I believe I probably use it in softer numbers, regardless of not having the name in my head. The super conga member is surely based on a post count or something...I make no personal claim to that status.

Whitemanplay, my band and my family and friends are thrilled with my first ever solo attempt, and would like to see it done live..you know, a variation of it..couldn't duplicate it. It represents a new step for me in my efforts, and they are very happy...that keeps me at it too.

God bless!

-Ron



Edited By bongoron on 1160003003

[ABAKUA]

Well done for giving it a go!
The more you do it, the more comfortable you will get and the more you will discover what works and what doesnt.

I would advise perhaps trying to not repeat things too much, maybe make the intro to the solo a bit shorter before getting into it.

Any solo should follow a formula.

It should have an introduction, a mid section and an outro/finale.
It is the same as composing a piece of music.

With practise and time, you will develop further abilities.

If you cant afford lessons, perhaps try to borrow or get your hands on the drumming book 'Stick Control'
While it was intended for stick drummers, the first 4 pages of excecises are invaluable for the hand drummer.
Go through them slowly and over time develop speed. Sound clarity and excercise excecution are most important.

Those excercises will lead you to develop more 'chops' and give you added speed and versatility. Also a great way to develop yourself.

Keep it up! Always forward.

oh, the muffled tone or mute tone is when you come down on the drum using all your fingers minus the thumb (fingers right up to your palm, but not including the palm) as if to do an open tone, but you press down on the drum slightly to create a muffled, pressed tone. takes practise to achieve, Im sure youve heard it before.. See if you can observe some experienced congueros, also a good way to learn and see things.



Edited By ABAKUA on 1160007953

[ABAKUA]

FOR SOMEONE THAT DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT A MUFFLE TONE IS I THINK IS OK.DOES NOT TAKE MUCH TO BE A SUPER CONGA MEMBER. ???

The title under your username is based off your post count, nothing more.

[Thomas]

Hi!
Abakua, is the book you are refering to called "stick control for the snare drummer" by George Lawrence Stone?

[niallgregory]

FOR SOMEONE THAT DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT A MUFFLE TONE IS I THINK IS OK.DOES NOT TAKE MUCH TO BE A SUPER CONGA MEMBER. ???

Does not take much to turn your caps lock on and off either ???