"Bowing" or Humming of the Drum

[KingKongas]

Let me start a post about "Bowing" or Humming of the Drum which is hitting the drum and running a finger usually an index... (but I've done it with every finger on my hand in the years ago on some very nice very new drums) and cant get it whatsover on my drums! I've done it on some very "curao" drums with ease. Is there a secret to getting your "cueros" soft enough to do this? My skins are the ones that came with my 3 Gios from LP... LP Hand picked Select (whatever that means). They seem to me to be very "unforgiving" but then again I've been told that "beat the #### outta them and they'll hum". What you all say to that???

[RayBoogie]

All I can say KING is practice, practice and more practice. It took me months to perfect the humming sound and I finally got it! Maybe, you should loosen the tension in the drum. That might help.

[rhythmisit]

I agree with Ray, practice would get you there. I produce that effect on my conga drum by hitting the open note and gliding my palm across the head, barely touching the Head, sort of like letting the Head come up statically and touch my palm, and I can produce a good humm out of the sound. Also important to do this almost at same time after you hit the open tone, if you wait little longer it may die out the vibration in the pad. I have not done it with a finger but assume it is same technique. The tightness of the head also may have some impact on it but not sure. I had learnt this technique, while back playing Tabla drums, but the principles are the same.

[KingKongas]

I agree with both of you... I try it everyday and have loosened the tension which does make it easier. But I guess I was looking for help on these skins. They seem to be harder than I guess I'm used to... I've started drumming again after about a 20 year hiatus! I actually tried doing the palm instead of a finger and have gotten some hum outta the drum but I remember being able to actually make the drum hum with the fingers which sound pretty sweet. It's like getting a crystal glass to hum by rubbing a moist finger around the edge... once you get that vibe going it really is pretty cool. I get a hum out of practically all the drum heads in my percussion class... even the timpani skins, buffalo drums, djembes, a really tall african drum with a thick skin (sorry I dont know the name of it), an older set of conga drums, etc. So I know I can still get it. Guess I'm just impatient with my own drums. I love my Gios dont get me wrong but I'll keep trying!

[RayBoogie]

Hey King, I've heard from several people on this site express their disenchantment with their Gio's. Can you tell me how you feel about yours?

I have MATADOR (Conga and Tumba),which I'm very, VERY happy with. They have a beautiful open tones and a awesome crisp slap sound.

[KingKongas]

Hey RayB. I've read some of the Gio negatives here and elsewhere. Unfortunately I do not have a wide experience with alot of different brands of drums nowadays. Many moons ago I used to play on just about anything that produced a sound. Most of the negatives about the Gios seem to focus on the "gold-looking" hardware and what-not. I believe that a good drummer can get good sounds out of any drums and only the more expert/advance drummers would tell the musical difference between drums. I know drummers that it wouldnt matter what they played... it wouldnt sound good. I know some really good drummers that the drum would make a difference. Is it the equipment, the player or a combo of both. I do prefer the all wood/real skin sound. The Gios are wood with fiberglass shell. So I do like them over all fiberglass shell drums. A friend has 4 Gios but went out and put Remo NuSkins on 3 of them. I personally didnt like their sound. But I guess that's a matter of personal choice. Are your Matadors all wood with real skin on them? Did you have the chance to play Gios before deciding on your choice? Just curious. I didnt play any others before buying the Gios. I owned a set of fiberglass LPs many years ago and I guess I just gravitated back to them when I got the urge to play again.

[KingKongas]

Just an update that I was finally able to get a hum out of the tumba the other day and was thrilled. Not sure what it was that day but I got it. The tumba head is loosened a little since I've been playing on only that drum recently. I tend to play on only one drum every once in a while. It helps me to play with the palms and playing muted tones, muted opens, muted slaps and concentrate playing with my left hand. That could be it or just maybe all the practice finally paid off!

[Chelsea]

I've managed to get a nice 'hum' consistently for a while now, and think it has partly to do with having a little bit of moisture on the tip of whichever finger you run across the drum. I saw Raul Rekow do it live, and he licked his index finger. Optionally, my teacher tells me that if you've been playing a long session, you can wipe a little bit of sweat from your palm to your finger and try it.

Seems to work everytime!

[RayBoogie]

Congrats to you King and Chelsea. I glad to hear that you have the Bowing down. RayBoogie!!

[JohnnyConga]

New Millenium new term.....in my skool we called it the "moose call" where you slightly wet your middle finger tip , strike the conga and simoultaneously slide the finger cross the middle of the drum diagonally......Bowing huh.....cool....I'm still learning and luvin it!......Thank you...JC JOHNNY CONGA...

[Fish]

I just can't get it..............

I know I should concentrate on getting my technique and general playing to a reasonable level before I try things like this but it just sounds so cool.........

All I can get is a sort of scraping farting noise but that's if I apply a fair amount of pressure (unlike what someone said about letting it glide). I can get a good hum out of the toms on my drum kit and I even got one out of a timpani the other day but nothing happens on congas.

Any thoughts?

Fish

[Chelsea]

I know the scraping farting noise you're talking about Fish. Had the same thing myself for ages. You have to apply absolutely 'no' pressure - it's as though the skin reverberates up to meet your finger or palm. Try running your finger at faster and slower speeds, I found that helped too.

Chelsea

[KingKongas]

Hey Thanks for the replies to this post... It's not a required technique but it does add to the repertoire!

We play a marimba piece in class and this more advanced drummer is "bowing" or "humming" or .... "moose-ing" (in JCs case!)... around the basic rhythm and it sounds awesome! We also try it in other rhythms as well. I've heard this technique called alot of things but we all get the picture right?!?!?!? I've heard it refered to as a "whale", "elephant with a tooth-ache", "walrus with a headache", "rhino with a tummy-ache".... just kidding with JC here!!!

I find that wetting the tip of the finger with saliva works best. Never really tried the sweat thing but I'll check it out. Seems that the condition of the skin has most to do with the sound you can get. I do agree with JC that you should go in diagonal direction... but it definitely depends on the drum/skin. I've gone in all directions and gotten a hum out of the drum... it really does depend on the drum and what she's prepared to give you.

[dansinger]

I think it is all about the head. I'm using Evans heads and they are really smooth. I couldn't do it either. My teacher told me to rub a little bee wax or rosin from a violin bow on the head. I did it and it works great. I even tried it on a natural skin and it worked there as well. Give it a try.

[yoni]

Some beeswax or rosin sounds worth a try. Moisture seems to ease the "stretch" (that's the name I know for this sound). In a tropic climate with high humidity one can make it easily, no saliva, especially on a low-pitched drum.