by Thomas Altmann » Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:02 pm
OMG ... The first thing I learned when I started playing congas was to stripe off all of these gems! Otherwise you would damage your hands and fingers, you may damage the drum, spoil the sound, and last not least, you could even damage your jewelry, too. My wife resented me terribly for not wearing my wedding ring, because I didn't want to constantly take it off and put it on, to the effect of losing it one day ... I even take off my Idefá (Orula bracelet) before playing congas or bongos; I only wear it when playing batá.
No matter what anybody else is doing; nobody will ever have me wear fingerrings while playing hand drums, no way! I don't even want to imagine how the ring cuts in my finger without being able to get it off ...
Greetings,
Thomas