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 Original Valje LP Armando Peraza Series 1998 Conga Drum 11 $255.00 (14 Bids) Time Remaining: 42m |
 Latin Jazz Legend Poncho Sanchezs Gon Bop Conga Memorabilia Collection LOOK $599.00 Time Remaining: 5d 21h Buy It Now for only: $599.00 |
 Original Valje 11 Conga Drum Handcrafted in Thailand in 1989 $355.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 27m |
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 Vintage Conga Wood Drum 21 1 2 x 10 $49.95 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 6m |
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 Meinl Marathon series Conga Congas set x3 with Stand Local pick up Available $300.00 Time Remaining: 17d 5h 22m Buy It Now for only: $300.00 |
 25 Off New Santini Blue African Drum Mini Conga Drums 8 Head 115 Tall $26.00 Time Remaining: 2h 54m Buy It Now for only: $28.95 |
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 TWO 11 LP MATADOR WOOD CONGAS W LP STAND RED $500.00 Time Remaining: 29d 10h 38m Buy It Now for only: $500.00 |
 PEARL Primero Pro Series CONGAs with heavy duty TWIN STAND in excellent shape $350.00 Time Remaining: 3h 20m |
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 MEINL TMC Conga Basket sg $109.95 Time Remaining: 28d 23h 48m Buy It Now for only: $109.95 |
 LP Galaxy Giovanni 11 Conga Drum $350.00 Time Remaining: 4d 37m |
 Set Of Natural Congas 9 And 10 Tuneable W Stands And Tuning Wrench $299.95 Time Remaining: 2h 38m |
 TOCA PLAYER SERIES CONGA DRUM $69.99 Time Remaining: 12d 3h 16m Buy It Now for only: $69.99 |
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 New Santini Black African Drum Mini Conga Drums 8 Head 115 Tall $36.85 Time Remaining: 20h 14m Buy It Now for only: $40.95 |
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 COSMIC PERCUSSION RED FIBERGLASS CONGA DRUMS METAL STAND $250.00 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 54m |
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 RARE FIND Remo Trilok Gurtu kick conga $499.99 Time Remaining: 1d 7h 12m Buy It Now for only: $750.00 |
 Tycoon 12 1 2 SIGNATURE GRAND TUMBA conga w STAND $649.95 Time Remaining: 7h 49m |
 Tycoon STC BR Supremo Conga Set 10 11 Red w Double Stand $349.00 Time Remaining: 1d 21h 5m Buy It Now for only: $349.00 |
 New Santini Large White African Conga Drum 215 Tall w 8 Head $62.95 Time Remaining: 1d 4h 54m Buy It Now for only: $69.95 |
 New Santini Natural African Drum Mini Conga Drums 8 Head 115 Tall $36.85 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 19m Buy It Now for only: $40.95 |
 GREAT NEW SONOR MODEL LS10 10 CONGA STAND GREAT QUALITY PRICE $29.95 Time Remaining: 24d 23h 34m Buy It Now for only: $29.95 |
 Conga Drum with Santini black Drum stand $40.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 3d 6h 12m |
 Sonor Street Conga Ashiko $75.00 Time Remaining: 1d 7h 33m Buy It Now for only: $125.00 |
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 Giovanni Hidalgo Compact Conga 11 head $29.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 5d 22h 42m |
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 Gon Bops Tumbao Conga Natural 1225Tumba $189.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 5d 21h 27m |
 Original Vintage Latin Percusion Conga $200.00 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 8m Buy It Now for only: $200.00 |
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 Toca Replacement Conga Bongo Heads 11 In $32.99 Time Remaining: 28d 19h 7m Buy It Now for only: $32.99 |
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 Conga LATIN PERCUSSION GALAXY REQUINTO congas 9 3 4 $459.00 Time Remaining: 2d 20h 20m |
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 Tycoon 10 Signature heritage REQUINTO conga w stabd $549.95 Time Remaining: 1d 22m |
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 Conga Drums set w stand percussion 910 pair NEW latin $89.95 Time Remaining: 18d 23h 21m Buy It Now for only: $89.95 |
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 WOODSTOCK CONGA DRUMNIB $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 4d 22h 26m |
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 VNTG 60S MAHOGANY GON BOP CONGA DRUMS W STAND 10 11 VERY NICE ONES $799.00 Time Remaining: 6d 6h 36m |
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 New Santini Black African Drum Mini Conga Drums 8 Head 115 Tall $52.95 Time Remaining: 4d 4h 55m Buy It Now for only: $52.95 |
 Tycoon 10 Signature Grand REQUINTO conga w Stand $614.95 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 37m |
 Tycoon 11 3 4 SIGNATURE GRAND CONGA w STAND $639.95 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 47m |
 Toca Traditional Series 11 3 4 Conga 3911 3 4T Natural Finish Brushed Nickle $219.99 Time Remaining: 17d 8h 50m Buy It Now for only: $219.99 |
 Tycoon 11 3 4 SIGNATURE HERITAGE CONGA w STAND $549.95 Time Remaining: 1d 32m |
 STAGG 9 Lacquered Portable Conga with Natural Wood Body Plus Nylon Strap $144.95 Time Remaining: 1d 4h 52m |
 Conga Pin Red SIngle $6.00 Time Remaining: 22d 1h 59m Buy It Now for only: $6.00 |
 Tycoon 11 SIGNATURE GRAND QUINTO conga w STAND $629.95 Time Remaining: 1d 9h 7m |
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 Natural Oak Caribe Conga 21 tall with a 9 head New $139.95 Time Remaining: 1d 8h 13m |
 Tycoon 11 SIGNATURE HERITAGE QUINTO conga w STAND $549.95 Time Remaining: 1d 7h 53m |
 Latin Percussion LP825 Giovanni Hidalgo Drum Key Tunable Compact Conga $139.00 Time Remaining: 21d 18h 15m Buy It Now for only: $139.00 |
 Tycoon Tycoon Supremo Conga set 10 11 BLACK w STAND $309.95 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 1m |
 NEW Conga Drums set with stand Latin percussion 9 10 $129.95 Time Remaining: 4d 1h 59m |
 NEW Latin Percussion LP637 Rubber Conga Feet $24.49 Time Remaining: 21d 23h 28m Buy It Now for only: $24.49 |
 Latin Percusion Aspire Conga and Bongos $120.00 Time Remaining: 5d 10h 26m |
 25 Off New Santini Red African Drum Mini Conga Drums 8 Head 115 Tall $26.00 Time Remaining: 5d 17h 54m Buy It Now for only: $28.95 |
 Rare MP Mano percussion Red Conga Drum NICE 11in tall $44.99 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 45m Buy It Now for only: $44.99 |
 Conga Drums set w stand percussion 910 pair NEW latin $89.95 Time Remaining: 4d 5h 46m |
 Set Of Natural Congas 9 And 10 Tuneable W Stands And Tuning Wrench $299.95 Time Remaining: 4d 2h 38m |
 New Santini Natural African Drum Mini Conga Drums 8 Head 115 Tall $52.95 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 54m Buy It Now for only: $52.95 |
 New Santini Purple African Drum Mini Conga Drums 8 Head 115 Tall $36.85 Time Remaining: 5d 22h 4m Buy It Now for only: $40.95 |
 LP Aspire Red Fiberglass Conga Set 10 11 drums NEW $374.95 Time Remaining: 4d 1h 45m |
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 Latin Percussion World Beat Conga Drums with FREE 3 leg stand $220.00 Time Remaining: 3d 23h 7m Buy It Now for only: $275.00 |
 LP Aspire Santana Abraxas Conga Drum Set 10 11 Demo Model w Stand $349.99 Time Remaining: 4d 3h 41m Buy It Now for only: $349.99 |
 Tycoon 10 Signature Grand REQUINTO conga w Stand $614.95 Time Remaining: 4d 1h 38m |
 25 Off New Santini Red African Drum Mini Conga Drums 8 Head 115 Tall $40.95 Time Remaining: 5d 20h 44m Buy It Now for only: $40.95 |
 Conga Drums set w stand percussion 910 pair NEW black $129.95 Time Remaining: 4d 7h 7m |
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 LP LPA646 Aspire Conga Set with Double Stand $349.00 Time Remaining: 29d 16h 24m Buy It Now for only: $349.00 |
 Tycoon 10 Signature heritage REQUINTO conga w stabd $549.95 Time Remaining: 4d 26m |
 LP Aspire Red Wood Conga Set 10 and 11 drums NEW $369.95 Time Remaining: 4d 8h |
 New Santini Large White African Conga Drum 215 Tall w 8 Head $84.95 Time Remaining: 6d 3h 44m Buy It Now for only: $84.95 |
 STAGG 9 Lacquered Portable Conga with Natural Wood Body Plus Nylon Strap $144.95 Time Remaining: 4d 5h 29m |
 Tycoon 11 3 4 SIGNATURE GRAND CONGA w STAND $639.95 Time Remaining: 4d 1h 47m |
 CP Cosmic Percussion 11 Conga Head Brand New Latin Percussion $39.00 Time Remaining: 9h 46m Buy It Now for only: $39.00 |
 Natural Oak Caribe Conga 21 tall with a 9 head New $139.95 Time Remaining: 4d 8h 34m |
 Tycoon 11 3 4 SIGNATURE HERITAGE CONGA w STAND $549.95 Time Remaining: 4d 39m |
 LP Aspire Pro Wood 10 11 Conga Set w Stand LPA646 SBC Sunburst Chrome $319.99 Time Remaining: 24d 19h 17m Buy It Now for only: $319.99 |
 Tycoon 11 SIGNATURE GRAND QUINTO conga w STAND $629.95 Time Remaining: 4d 9h 10m |
 Gon Bops Tumbao Conga Natural Conga 115 $189.00 Time Remaining: 5d 21h 25m Buy It Now for only: $259.00 |
 LP Congas Bongos LPA601 HAC Aspire Bongo Pair new in box Latin Percussion $69.00 Time Remaining: 11d 1h 1m Buy It Now for only: $69.00 |
 Full size pair of conga drums with stands latin bongos $299.00 Time Remaining: 6d 22h 2m |
Conga Drums: A Confusing But Moving Family
Conga drums are an integral part of most Latin American music. In North America, everyone has heard of a conga line and unfortunately, most of us have been forced to join one at one point or another, often during a wedding reception. But the music of the conga is far too diverse to be pigeonholed as wedding reception music. These instruments are used not only in genres like salsa and rumba, but in Afro-Caribbean religious music as well. Conga drums are a very important facet of life in South America.
The bodies of conga drums are "staved," or made of multiple strips of wood or fiberglass, similar to the construction of a barrel. Chances are that the ancestors of modern congas were, in fact, made from salvaged barrels. The drum heads are of rawhide or synthetic materials and are screw-tensioned. The height of the average conga drum is about three feet, and the instruments are usually played in sets of two to four. They can be played from either a sitting or standing position, although for the latter, the drums must be mounted on a rack. An artist who plays conga is called a "conguero."
Although the average height of a conga drum is about three feet, there is actually enough size variation to warrant different names for different sized drums. However, there is some confusion over these names. One source maintains that the drums are called, in order of largest to smallest, the "tumba," the "conga," the "quinto," the "requinto" and the "Ricardo," the last being named for Desi Arnaz's character of Ricky Ricardo on "I Love Lucy."
Another source calls the largest the "tumba," but refers to the smallest as the "nino" and gives no names for the middle sizes. Still other names include the "segundo" and the "supertumba." Clearly, there is no standardized set of names. Even the term "conga drum" can sometimes be confusing. While some experts maintain "conga" may be used in both English and Spanish, others aver that it should be used only in English and that "tumbadoras" should be used in Spanish. All and all, it can be quite bewildering.
But there is nothing confusing about the rhythms of the conga drums. To produce these rhythms, congueros use five basic tones and techniques: the open tone, the muffled tone, the bass tone, the slap, and the touch.
The open tone is exactly what its name implies-a clear resonant tone with a distinct pitch created by striking four fingers near the rim of the head. The muffled tone is like the open tone, but the fingers are held against the head to muffle the sound. The bass tone is made by striking the head with the full palm of the hand. The slap technique produces a popping sound, and the touch, again as the name implies, is a method of barely touching the fingers or the heel of the hand to the drum head. A final technique exists in which the conguero uses his elbow to apply pressure to different parts of the head. This is not a traditional method, but it is commonly used in modern salsa and rumba.
As mentioned, the character of Ricky Ricardo helped popularize the conga, even though the instrument he played on the show was actually more similar to the Cuban "boku," another type of drum. The music of the conga remains popular today, in part due to the current popularity of Latin music and Latin ballroom dances.
About the Author
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, keyboards, sheet music, guitar tab, and home theater audio. You can find the best marketplace at these sites for drums, conga drums, sheet music, guitar tabs, and home theater audio.
How to Play Conga Drums : Conga Drum Sound Development