Conga Lesson 3: Advanced Tones & Technique- Nate Torres

[myarbro909]

Having played Djembe and Doumbek for 9 years, and just starting up on Conga's, I am finding these vid's very helpful. Luckily I didn't have to practice with the different styles of hitting. I agree, the hardest is to do is a one handed slap, but feel lucky to not have to learn a different way of doing it. It's the same way you make slaps with Djembes and Doumbeks. I think my biggest challenge is learning to use more than one drum. In my case, a quinto, conga, and tumba!

[prpapito3000]

@myarbro909 that sounds great bro! Just means that you've already conquered the hardest part, the playing with multiple drums part should be a breeze! Good luck

[lolo11716]

you are very talented!!!! i love your videos peace!

[0524cisco]

i wih i could take lessons with this guy......he 's a good teacher

[prpapito3000]

@0524cisco lol if you were in VA it would be possible

[brasiou009]

Tank you so much for sharing...

[guitarrero1]

nice videos , but there is a loose screw that is creating some kind of overtone.

[prpapito3000]

its more the quality of the sound on the camera! thanks tho

[mnkysan7]

Thank you for your series. I have recently started playing after wanting to for years. This week I went to my first conga lesson and we were able to progress to rhythms right away because I had already learned the tones from your videos (and practiced them a lot).

[prpapito3000]

thats whats up...less money you gotta spend! lol

[high90times]

thanks for posting i just bought a conga for some one and i decided to learn how to playit myself so i chcked out ur vids they are helpful but im not good so far i have had it 4 an hour. i play the actual drumset thats what i am used to. i plan on learning congas thanks to ur vids thanks

[prpapito3000]

good man, hope to hear more good things from you

[lpcongadude]

Hi Nate,

I am about 3 days away from getting my LP Aspire 11' 11 3/4" and 12" drums! I look forward to walking through your online series. Thanks.

[prpapito3000]

hows it been goin so far?

[ElMafioso17]

Is the closed slap, and the open slap with pressure sopose to have a different sound? Is it the same tone done differently ?

[prpapito3000]

that is a great quesion...essentially if it is done correctly then it is supposed to sound practically identical, however, the closed slap with pressure on the head will tend to sound drier because of obvious reasons...hope this helps

[ElMafioso17]

It helps alot actually, and solved one of my biggest questions. I would often do the open slap (with pressure) again and again trying to get some tone (in which i was not sure how was sopose to sound). Thanks again, and I greatly appreciate your time in answereing my questions.

[Closure777]

What barnd is your conga? and is it fiberglass or wooden?

[prpapito3000]

lp classic series...wood

[franksuarez1]

Es posible que hagas una clase en español? Me parece muy interesante tu técnica, gracias de antemano por tu respuesta.

[prpapito3000]

Seria posible, pero es que cojeria mucho tiempo para hacerlo...Quizas cuando tenga mas tiempo...perdona que no le puedo ayudar en eso

[franksuarez1]

o.k, muchas gracias por la respuesta en todo caso, ¿puedes aconsejarme alguna página en donde se pueda bajar un curso o donde uno pueda bajar videos para aprender a tocar?

[prpapito3000]

Si claro...Hay muchos videos aqui que deberian tener algo. Y tambien hay videos como los de Bobby Sanabria, giovanni hidalgo, etc. que son bilingue. Y si no, pues trata de mirar bien las manos y trata de imitarlos...

[jackrodus]

Nate i have most of the basics down. Just

wanted to drop a note and tell you keep up

the good work. I will always be learning and

I appreciate your time and effort. I put up

a video of me playing. Im looking for critique. I'd like to have a video log of me

improving, so I as well as others can watch

my growth and skill. My main trouble is developing my right arm/hand as im left handed. My video displays this problem. Hopeful to post a new one soon that shows

my practice. peace man.

[prpapito3000]

Thanks...and I meant to do a video about that. But for real, just make sure you do it EVENLY and just try to listen to songs and/or conga players, and match the sound the best you can

[prpapito3000]

haha...whatever, you freakin punk! Dont be hatin

[northwarrior21]

theses videos are great man, i play drums but i suck at congas and these are helping a lot.

[moiyo]

hey man i'm beginning to play congas and these videos have been the most helpful so far. i never seen that harmonic technique with the two fingers on any teaching video yet. thank you so much for sharing it, it is something i will definitely be incorporating and practicing from now on, peace

[prpapito3000]

Yea I kno what you mean. To be honest, there is a LOT of material that covers the basics and information you can get practically anywhere, but Im trying to bring stuff to the table that everyone wants to know but cant find...

[prpapito3000]

Of course...Now, I was one of those that began with the "heel" finger method. But let me tell you that it lacks sound and technique as you progress...The best and correct way to do it is palm (hand) finger combination. Thanks for your positive feedback and have a great day

[sigwom]

I'd like to play with you someday:)

I'm a professional jazzpianist living in norway. I've played with some great musicans from cuba, africa, chile and mexico:)

[prpapito3000]

that sounds great to me ;)...I would like that as well

[sigwom]

very good instruction video one of the best!:)

[prpapito3000]

thanks a lot, I try! lol

[Gerakos1]

having taught congas for many years, this is by far the best instruction on youtube.

[prpapito3000]

Oh so you teach as well??? Thats great, appreciate the support as well!

[GerSnij]

Have seen some conga lessons on youtube.

But this is what teaching is about! Please keep going!

[prpapito3000]

wow...I cant believe the positive responses Ive gotten, I never expected my videos to be this popular or user friendly, but Im glad they help...thanks a lot and anything I can do to help then let me know

[numofan]

Your presentation is very clear and straightforward - much easier to follow than most instructional videos.

A question: what you refer to as harmonics seems to be what I'd call pitch-bending. Am I missing something obvious?

[prpapito3000]

Thanks a lot, I try to break it down as much as possible...and I guess as far as "harmonics" Im not really sure. I got the term from the great conguero Giovanni Hidalgo, and ever since then thats how I refer to them...It may be a bad translation from Spanish to English? lol...