Open slaps - method

[GuruPimpi]

Hmmmmm....

I don't know shit about Gerry or mr. no chops as a personalities. I just dislike when people start to throw at each other nasty generalized shit.

I don't know who's right or who is fake (if there's any) but, how to achieve technique by the written words... well, let's just stay constructive and share what we can share via forum, emails, electronic media.

No hostile energy plz !!!

I drum, therefore I share peace!

Primoz

p.s. Does anybody knows how to minimaze pics, photos... to make avatar or just smaller pictures?

[zaragemca]

For those forum members which don't know me,I'm from Los Sitios Barrio,(already famous for its rumberos) (Havana,Cuba),born in a rumberos house,(from where I got my knowlege),and from my african ancestors all related to African,percussion and pattern,been playing Rock and Jazz since the late 60's.been a drummer/percussionist,for 37 years ,teaching percussion and drumming for 15 years,and for seven years teaching advanced percussion structures in relation to African,Afrocuban,Caribbean,Brazilian,and AfroJazz,which articles in relation to percussion all over the internet,A session musician,performer and CD's producer.I did a research in this guy and his a notbody in the musical field(like the guy which was trying to challenge Tata-Guines.My Webpage Tabutheband,This is where I'm.,the conga player is one of my students.



Edited By zaragemca on 1103658482

[JohnnyConga]

Hello Mr. NO CHOPS....first I would like to say that we have a "family" here. We do not like to see or hear people be "disrespectful" to our members. It's ok to disagree but when you start with "slander" then WE have a problem. You don;'t have to like what anybody says here but I request you RESPECT everyone here, or you can just disapear. Thank you and Happy Holidays!.. "JC" Johnny Conga.... :;):

[Cuidado]

Hi all,
in order to answer at the first question, we can say that there are several techniques to make open slaps or slaps.
We have the old techniques and modern techniques.
You must choose the position which is the best for your hands.
However my teacher says that the modern tecniques is better to avoid muscle cramps.
Hasta pronto.

[Mr. NoChops]

Hello Mr. NO CHOPS....first I would like to say that we have a "family" here. We do not like to see or hear people be "disrespectful" to our members. It's ok to disagree but when you start with "slander" then WE have a problem. You don;'t have to like what anybody says here but I request you RESPECT everyone here, or you can just disapear. Thank you and Happy Holidays!.. "JC" Johnny Conga.... :;):

I think zaragemca is the one disrespecting all of us. There are people like me on this board eager to learn more and share the little we already know. Then there are accomplished Congueros as yourself JC, and I personally feel that zaragemca's condescending BS is absolutely useless and I actually find it insulting.
I realize I "blew up", and it wasn't my intention to spread animosity. It was just a gut reaction and it won't happen again. However, I stand by my words: I've seen enough BS out of zaragemca deeming him and his wise words worthy of zero respect or value.
Peace

[ABAKUA]

I agree with you nochops.

While keeping the peace between us is all good and the like, I also find mr Z's words full of shit at times.

Man, you being from Los Sitios or not dont mean shit, if you are not going to post something usefull then dont post at all, Ive seen many of your posts in the kind of "look at me Im great" kind of posts sharing no technical info at all.
Are you that insecure that you need to post these types of reply's?

I think you need to get over yourself, while I give major respect to cuban percussionists, it does not mean shit where you are from or where you were born. I thought it was about what you have studied and how much dedication you put into your practising and playing taht made you a top percussionist, not where you were born. ???

I was born in Argentina and live in Sydney Australia, far from any solar or any bembe... Does this make me any less of an accomplished percussionist/conguero than someone from La Habana, Callo Hueso, Barrio Polonoi, New York or San Juan?
You dont see me being all high and mighty, even though I outplay many a percussionist from around the world as Im sure you do and many others on here also.

Share what you know and lose the esotorical type replies Asere, me entiendes? Just makes you look like someone with a swelled head who needs to prove something.

I am not doubting your skill as a tumbador, what gets to me is the high and mighty type replies.

If there is 1 thing Ive learnt that makes you well respected and keeps you respected once you are at a good level, its keeping humble about what you are and be open about what you possese.

Sharing and passing on of information is what began us all at one point on our journey to being a conguero.
Dont lose site of how you began, free of attitude and humble.

Forgive me if Ive misunderstood your posts, Im merely explaining how you come across.



Edited By ABAKUA on 1103718249

[dvon]

Jejeje, the fun thing of being a newbie is that you can always enjoy this kind of dicussions. I am not a professional conguero or musician- in fact I can barely be called a conguero, though I would like to be called like that some day - but this kind of ego discussions are pretty common everywhere (I'm an economist, jejeje) . I liked JC's position on this topic (very objective, trying to preserve the brotherhood of this forum, as many other times) but he himself has been involved in similar discussions in the past; I think it is just natural.

I looked at Zaragemca's web page: I am sure he is an amazing conguero and percussionist, and hope that I can see him live in the future. I have also learned a lot from his posts on historical facts. Here in Colombia, I don't know elsewhere, Cubans are recognized for this kind of attitudes, and I understand it and enjoy that kind of pride and self respect that Cuban show. I must say, though, that I have met a couple of outstanding Cuban percussionists but also incredible human beings willing to show others what they naturally have in their genes.

But come on! We were talking about slap technique! Here in the forum are many newbies, like myself, that want to learn from the master congueros!

Returning to the original topic: I am sure I have read about it in past discussions in the forum, but can any one tell if I am right? To my knowledge there are at least three major kinds of slaps: muffled (with the weak hand pressing the head), opened (done basicly with the finger tips, in what many describe as a whip like move.), and a third one that I really don't know how it is called, but which I believe is the one used in double strokes. The last one has been really difficult to dominate: it just doesn't sound as crispy as I here in my records, or as my teacher's (I know here will come the advice: practice, practice, practice). Can any one tell me anything about it? My teacher has told me that the third kind of slap sounds more crispy with fiberglass congas.

By the way, I remember a recent post in another forum about the "crispiest slap in history"- I believe it was called- by another great conguero I admire. If I remember well, he said that the best slap was that of Tata Guines. JC replied that "we should not forget Mongo's slap". Well yesterday, looking at a video at http://www.chesky.com/ (posted in another discussion in this forum) I saw Mongo and I am still impressed with his slap. Just wanted to share it...

Good Luck!

[zaragemca]

Getting everybody else in the forum out of this,I want to tell both of this guys the one from Finland and this Abakua,that there is nothing else to debate with both of you, together come down, I would like to show you what I mean when I said I'm comming from Los Sitios(of course these people which don't know the battle which the congeros have to fight in the cuban carnival(between barrios),and the 'Real Rumba Places' ,doesn't know what I mean),but it is where I come from cats.Just come down or ...sink,...which is usully what this guys do when the fire is getting close to them.Like Dvon said,we are like that when is come down to challenge so take or... sink.To brother JC, and the rest of people,thanks.



Edited By zaragemca on 1103737504

[GuruPimpi]

Cooled down.....

I'm new in this forum, i just recently saw the clip from a new member to community of congaplace: Emanuelle ''Shaddy'' Sgarbi. Check it out, nice work and slaps...

Finding out that this is even greater place, o mamma mia...!!!!

Groovie Hollidays to All and keep on trying and walking towards Light and Love!


GP

[zaragemca]

The technique of the conga slap was develop during cuban-Carnivals(the battle of the barrios),where the percussionists and dancers would compete for first prizes,since at that time the percussionist were playing with one conga carry on the shoulders they have to develop this in other to change the pitch(sound of the instrument) to articulate differents patterns,ones of the tops percussionists and directors of comparsas which are the developers of this pattern were Gerardo Montes(La Bollera),Miguel Valdes(La Jardinera),and one of the best of all,(El nino)Santos Eulogio Ramirez Arango.Everything the congeros (which were playing later in Conjuntos or Orchestras learned about congas) was from the foundation of this guys,when the tumbas was incorporated in to the orchestras the tecnique of the slap was consisten with pressing the conga with the left-hand( to cut the vibration response), and to swing the right-hand around the edge toward the right-side(which is the old tecnique),the 'quinto' with its smaller diameter was incorporated to the conga and tumba in order to facilitate the slap with one hand,or double slap and the motion of the hand to articulate the stroke'change' evolving in the new slaping technique with is streak down and holding or cutting the vibration with the same hand at the same time.This from somebody which doesn't know anything about the evolution of the percussion technique,Master Percussionist,Gerry Zaragemca.



Edited By zaragemca on 1104174352

[JohnnyConga]

YO Yo YO ...Can't we ALL just get along.....Ok so Zaragemca doesn't turn you on with his "style" of information. Soooo what!....WE can learn from everyone, no matter how they "express" themselves. Also I wouldn't open my mouth if I was a "novice" of the drum, and had almost No experience with Rumba or other forms of group/band drumming.. this is a forum where we "share" our individual knowledge amongst each other, whether we agree with they way it's expressed or not......so c'mon guys and chill...let's respect one another...what else do we have, if not respect?....I want to wish everyone here again a HAPPY HOLIDAY!.....in peace..."JC" Johnny Conga.....

[RitmoBoricua]

let's respect one another...what else do we have, if not respect?....I want to wish everyone here again a HAPPY HOLIDAY!.....in peace..."JC" Johnny Conga.....

Guys let read and heed what JC wrote. Let's try to get into respect, humbleness and understanding after all we are just mere human beings.

Feliz Navidad, Prospero Año Nuevo Y Que Reciban Muchas Bendiciones De Nuestro Señor Y Salvador Jesus Para Toda Esta Tremenda Gente Bonita Del Foro!

[ABAKUA]

zaragemca,

you need to:

a) learn to read posts properly
b) get over yourself
c) stop assuming that noone knows about the rumba battles n shit

Do you honestly think noone has spent enough time in Cuba to have experienced this?

Look at yourself.. pffft master conguero, people like you make me sick.

Noone here is challenging what you know or do not know. Go back and READ what was written.

You talk as if noone knows what you do, man, the world is a smaller place than what it once was.

There will always be someone better, cleaner or faster than you. Dude, you seriously need to get your head out of the clouds, your attitude is offensive and sickening.

Your attitude is typical of alot of old school percussionists who think they are more than anyone else could be. Newsflash man, you aint all that.



Edited By ABAKUA on 1103774897

[JohnnyConga]

Abakua...got a question for you? Whose side are you on? and to what contributions do you bring us besides antagonism?..... I would redirect my energy to a more positive road, my Brother, it takes ALL kinds to make the world go round, and you didn't create it.......peace....."JC" Johnny Conga....

[JohnnyConga]

BTW ...I am an "ol Skool" player and have never thought of myself as "better than" anybody,and most that I know are still that way today. So don't go and stereotype us ok?....I don't know what kind of musicians your accustomed to or know, but the ones I know are humble,kind, and giving. "JC" Johnny Conga......ps don't ever think of kindness or humility as a 'weakness'.....