Back-ache

[Simon B]

A physio friend told me he thought playing congas sitting down would inevitably prove bad for the back, a conguero friend thinks that it is alright as long as you are sitting properly (although he did say Tata Guines has real difficulty walking these days - and he always sits!). I have felt slight aches after long periods of playing sitting down.

What to do for the sake of a good back - stand or sit?

Simon B

[KingKongas]

You're talking about TATA GUINES! One of my ALL-TIME favorites! I'm still trying to get that famous "TRES GOLPES"! Is that a great drummer or what?!?!!?!? No One can compare to that!!! If we want to be congueros at that highest of levels.... think about the other atheletes in other sports... b-ball, f-ball, boxing, etc. where puttting your body ahead of yourself means getting to that NEXT level. Would we do it?!?!?!?!

AND if after all that fame... and we were to be described in that way... would WE do it?!?!?!?!?!

People who cant get up every AM without pain, etc.?

What say ye all???


Just my thoughts....

[120decibels]

Developing good posture is a must for preventing the aching back. I have fell off the wagon lately, but exercise and awareness are the key here. Crunches and other abdominal exercises also develop back muscles. Be aware of your posture when you play. It will be tiresome to sit up straight all the time until you develop the muscles. However, over the long haul, you'll thank yourself.


My $0.02,

Zach

[120decibels]

Two addendums to my last post.....

Tata Guines is an incredible player. He is one of the ground-breakers!

After long periods of sitting on a backless stool, you can expect to be tired and maybe even sore. There are two solutions. Build up the posture and endurance and/or get a stool with a back support. If you have a lot of trouble, do both.

[Simon B]

There's no way I will doubt Tata's awesome abilities and achivements as a player, and also as a warm-hearted man - my conguero friend now has his address and has been cordially nvited to Cuba (he is also Latin American, though - I can't even speak Spanish!). But as it was described to me the contrast was great - between an old man who walked a little ponderously to his seat, yet who's hands moved like lightning when he played. There is no harm in commmenting on physical mortality!

Simon B

[RayBoogie]

Can someone elaborate what would be considered bad posture while playing the congas? Every now and then my back aches when I play for a long time.

Should I start playing the congas in a stand if the pain continues?? ???

[Rick R]

Simon,
If you've got some change to drop, look at the Roc-N-Soc motion thrones with an added backrest. Extremely comfortable, and they lean with you. Since I got mine, I'm hardly conscious of my back (or butt) while playing/practicing for extended periods.

[KingKongas]

Happy Holidays Every Drummer Out There!!! Hope you're keeping the rhythm! Tata is great! I was trying to ask about all of us out there... the drummers... what would we do???

The physio- about standing vs. sitting... I sit. But I've known drummers who stand and have the flexibilty to move around as many as 5 drums and then hit some bongos and then hit some timbales. It really does depend on the drummer.

BUT it must be said that WE should be in as best shape as possible. Stretching is VERY important!!! Flexibilty is VERY important! Strentgth is very important! I read about ABS in this post and it is VERY important to the back. Not only in drumming but just about any "sport".

I've been hitting the drums having one arm almost resting horizontally on one drum while hitting another drum and then reversing the hands to the opposite drum. I have 3 drums... so the arms rest on the quinto while hitting the conga and the tumba drums. You will see the difference in hitting the drum without raising your arm that high. Concentrate on hitting the drum and getting the all the sounds (slap tone muffles bass, etc.) from an inch to about 6 inches from the drum head! Do the paradiddles this way. Practice the paradiddles with all 3 drums. I really do try this each and every day.

Any thoughts???

[Simon B]

I definitely agree about the need for the arm to rest roughly horizontal on the drum - higher means the possibility of strain. The other day I thought it would be an idea to set my bongos low on their stand so that I could play them while sat with congas - in actual fact they were still a good half a foot higher and further back, and felt very unconformtable to play. With this in mind conga and bongo combinations need to be with instruments on stands (I'm not overly keen playing congas with bongos gripped with legs - I don't think you can play the congas properly then!)

Simon B