Great to see your new acquisitions, Clayton. Real beauties. I’m exited to hear about your experiences!

Rhythm sound can make you addicted. The same applies to me.

I got stuck listening to this video:

Have fun experimenting, Birgit

@bluesiline, "Rhythm sound can make you addicted." Exactly, and it's downright therapeutic when you lock in and get into The Zone.

I like that middle east loop!  There's another YT line I will add to my subscriptions.

Like learning any instrument, or even style of music, this conga experience has me LISTENING.  New awareness of what where and how pieces fit to make good music.  And that Listening skill is so crucial in participating as a musician. 

Congrats on the new gear, which is always fun and exciting. Best wishes for many years of enjoyment!

Gracias, mi amigo.  They sound great.

@clayton, I forgot to ask how you will learn to play your new conga drums: with guidance or more intuitively out of your own practical experiences?

By the way, the egg shaker was not easy to find on your keyboard 😉. 

Birgit

@bluesiline, good eye!  Perhaps we should start a "what can you see in my practice space" thread, where people post pictures of their space and other members try to identify the gear.  The tweed amp in the background is a Fender Princeton Reissue Limited Edition exclusive from Sweetwater.  15 watts with a 12" speaker.

I'm learning conga thanks to some incredible Youtube contributor channels.  I'm a beginner so my information is limited, but- the hand percussion community is built upon traditional instruments that were created and used in a very social context.  These Percussion instruments are very fundamental. In Cuba where the conga arose alongside the clave Rhythm and homemade instruments, this music blended African 6/8 rhythms into 4/4 which spread across the Caribbean and into the Americas.  These rhythms and handmade instruments were the community voices of the oppressed like gospel, and they are an identity.  And I believe this very social tradition continues in the way percussion is taught and shared.  I have found that handsome percussion artists share the love of their art and the feel in a very organic sit down here and let's talk Rhythm and drums. They share it like family- very down to Earth. I'm learning rhythms, culture, and history.  

I've said this same praise about Robert's style of "Sit down here and let me show you" instruction.  It's like sitting on the porch and having your cool uncle show you one step at a time.  

I have found YT teachers who share so much more than just the drum notes and styles.  And these instructors share their channel space with other similar percussion instructors as guests.  There's Kilani at World Drum Club, Eric at The Percussion Life, and Edgardo at Dance Papi. And there are many more.  Wonderful people...isn't that what music is about?

And Finally- I take my own instruction on how to approach an instrument.  Congas have very precise note/sounds made by hand position and placement. There's a lot of discipline in learning and embedding these notes and sounds so I spend time developing Good Form habits.  BUT, just like guitar, there are times where I put on some music or a backing track or metronome and just play what feels good.  I leave time to explore the instrument and make sounds without getting weighed down in the right notes.  It's simply  Play Time!  I make mistakes and accidental discoveries, and just develop a relationship to the instrument and the feel of making music.  This freedom serves me well.

@clayton, thanks a lot for your detailed answer. And your answer is exactly the link to your comment on my question regarding the blues pattern in Robert’s new solo: Asking questions and getting answers: what an enrichment!

I asked you about your conga practice, because this is all completely new to me, and I got a wonderful answer and so many information helping me to expand my horizon a little bit. Thank you.

I only had a very brief look at World Drum Club, Percussion Life and Dance Papi and I found it very impressive: a lot to discover, very pleasant teachers and …… a lot of stuff to learn.

I realise that practical guidance is necessary to get the right hand position and placement just in the beginning of learning and also to prevent pain in the hands.

Think about the malposition of my picking hand. And the longer a malposition the more effort is necessary to correct it.

For sure, the whole thing will be an intense and exiting process for you. I hope that you will share, now and then, your experiences with us.

Enjoy learning and playing, Birgit

@bluesiline, what a treat to share an understanding of growth and appreciation!  Kilani speaks of becoming a better person and getting into the flow.  Edgardo is such an instant friend who speaks his heart and love of the music, while teaching in stories and building confidence.  And Eric Perez is so funny, genuine about himself, and an incredible self taught player.  It is Community, a large percussion social.  

This has opened a new world of learning in music and culture, and humanity.  ALL of this will make me a better person and musician.  

And, Yes, I will get some recordings posted.  It will be good to struggle and share!  

I can't wait to hear what you'll drum up from your studio now... 😀 😉

That's looks great Clayton, have a great time with it! 👍 

Posted by: @robert

I can't wait to hear what you'll drum up from your studio now... 😀 😉

It will be un-beat-able!