Head sizes, tuning and sweet spots - relation?

[Mike]

Many people have been thinking that tuning your congas is essentially a matter of preference
and I would also agree to some extent, but the point where the skins´resonance is at an optimum really
limits deliberate tuning (worries about extreme tension on the shell and hardware aside).

So what I want to say is this: for me the somewhat "classical" combination of 11.75" conga and 12.5" tumba
does not really work for some drums, the 3/4" difference in head sizes is not enough, as it were.
I rather find a difference in diameter of 1" or more is more useful when playing the drums tuned
in the interval of a fourth aka as "here comes (the bride)", which I do to 90%

Or is it just my own perception? At least I am by far more fond of a 11+12.5.25" or 10.75" + 12" combination
in a two-drum setup, for example, sometimes even 9.75"+11" for really high-pitched contexts.
Please don´t say I am too weird

With three or more congas at a time, tuning matters and sizes also play a role, of course.

So what is your favorite head size-combination,
or what are your ideas on the topic?

[ABAKUA]

sometimes even 9.75"+11" for really high-pitched contexts.
Please don´t say I am too weird

For me, I only play in Afro Cuban / Latin context bands ie Salsa, Timba, Latin Jazz, Descarga, Afro Cuban folkloric. etc. With rare minimal DJ work only if i ever get desperate for cash.
Based on that & my old school Cuban style teachings, I have been firmly led to believe a quinto (11") has no place in what we have come to call 'Salsa' ie Son Montuno. Hence I do not use one in my 'band' set up. A Quinto is primarilly for soloing within Rumba applications & Comparsa/Conga settings. Also the opinion shared by Anga, Changuito, Tata & Gio.
For the music I play, its body, projection, presencia & solidness that is needed. I also prefer & enjoy the additional real estate offered by the 11.75".
My typical set up is 3 drums. I use 2 x 11.75" Conga, & 1 x 12.5" Tumba, when using 4, I add an additional 12.5" Tumba. with an optional 5th drum as a screamer quinto or requinto off to the side for occasional accenting in solos. If feeling lazy or the lug to venue is a nightmare, I will only use 2 drums. 11.75" & 12.5"

Again, this is what applies to me & my setting.

[bongosnotbombs]

I think it works well to also have differing skin thicknesses to one's preference on the tumba and conga, as well as the size difference, to aid in tuning.

[Psych1]

I usually play just 2 congas & when I play LP sizes I prefer the tuning I get from the 11 & the 12 1/2 - with bongos these days I like 7" & 9"

But, once upon a time I had only 2 11 1/2 Caribbean Rhythm congas, one with a thick skin & one with a thin skin. I really liked those 2 congas and was able to tune them to the proper intervals

[Mike]

Good point on skin thickness, Psyh1+BnB,
that really makes a difference.
And as I like my conga skins on the thick side,
this is the reason why a Gon Bops mahogany 11" quinto
serves well as a main drum for me, because I would not dare
cranking up the skin on that delicate shell, hence it might sound
like Abakua´s tumbadora as main drum (e.g. pitch "C").
The Gon Bops do have a very nice sweet tone in the mid-range.

So size might not matter that much after all...

[thomas newton]

A Quinto is primarilly for soloing within Rumba applications...

The quinto never solos in rumba in the sense that the quintero can go off on his own and do whatever he may. It certainly has more freedom to improvise than the other players* but it remains an 'accompanist' with them.

Sorry if that's a bit pedantic but wouldn't want people unfamiliar with rumba to get the wrong idea.

* I'm including singers and dancers as 'players' here.

[Victorius]

Recently I've talked to King Conga about real sizes of drums in relation to sounds and playing...

Now I have two drums - conga (11.75") and tumba (13"). In real they are only 11.25" and 12.25" from edge to edge. Other tumbas I know are 12" instead of 12,5" (meinl woodcraft)

I tune these drums on middle c and g below - it works well. The thing is that in the future I am going to use up to 4 drum (2 - 4) and tune it always to specific pitches: f, g, b, c (middle). The choice is pretty easy if use LP or Meinl drums:

c - conga ( 11.25" edge to edge)
b - conga ( 11.25")
g - tumba (12")
f - tumba (12")

but what if use some other brands like SoS where drums are in different sizes? (10", 11", 12", 13")
In real they are smaller about .25" (thanks King Conga! ) so we've got: 9.75", 10.75" etc
In this situation my configuration can be little different becouse real measure of my drum tuned to middle c is exactly between SoS quinto and conga - so what to choose instead?

11.25" is now tuned to c, so better take smaller or larger surface? 10,75" or 11.75"? I mean only for sound - not for comfortable playing becouse everyone could prefer this in different way.

Some other makers have more sizes to choose, so it could be easier.

[Mike]

Interesting info, Victorious,
and yes,

Some other makers have more sizes to choose, so it could be easier.

No idea if it is easier, but I have always found the Gon Bops sizes and names a bit confusing, e.g.:

"Conga": 10.75" or "large Conga" 11"
"Tumba": 11.5"
"Large Tumba" etc.
This nomenclature certainly differs from "standard" sizes.


BTW my Gon Bops four-drum setup with f, g, b , and c in the middle is

c - conga 10.75"
b - conga 11"
g - tumba 12"
f - tumba 12.25"

I can only say it works well for me.

[Mike]

I've always been confused by the idea of tuning congas to specific notes. To my ear they all sound quite different depending how much air flow happens through the bottom. I play seated and if I lift my center drum completely off the ground the tone lowers, tipped forward it's about 1/2 way, flat it's highest. Do you all play with your drums in stands so this varriation is taken out of the equasion?

All four drums stand on the floor, and I like that tuning especially in Latin Jazz contexts. I do not really
mind the tonal difference when I lift the center drum , e.g., it is even a nice effect.
In a rumba setting, the intervals should be further apart (quinto - conga - tumba) IMHO - at least that is what
I believe I hear when I listen to records.
As I said, my initial statement referred to a two-drum setup, I just mentioned the four-drum setup because of the difference in head sizes.