History of Conga

Junior21

· 05 Aug 2022

History of Conga

#history
The Congas
Congas, also known as tumbadoras, are percussion instruments belonging to the group of membranophones. The Congas are long and narrow drums, with a single membrane and of Afro-Cuban origin.

The Congas
Source: Jazz-face (CC BY-SA 30)
They are usually played with the fingers and palms of the hands and in groups of two to four congas. Typical congas measures approximately 75 centimeters from the bottom to the top membrane.

In this article we are going to talk to you about the most important aspects of congas; from their classification in the family of instruments, the different types of congas that exist and we will also delve into more historical aspects such as their evolution in the history of music.

What are congas?
Congas are a percussion instrument of the membranophone family. Membranophones are all those instruments in which sound is generated by the vibration of a tensioned membrane or patch.

Membranophones are also divided into three groups according to the way these vibrations are generated: Percussion, blown and rubbed. Congas belongs to the group of percussed membranophone instruments, since to produce the sound we hit the membrane (usually with our hands).

Although Congas were developed in Cuba, their origins are African, since they derive from African drums created through an empty trunk and a membrane. Congas play a special role in Latin music genres such as rumba, Afro-Cuban jazz, salsa, Cuban timba, merengue or Latin rock.

Congas can be played sitting or standing. To play them standing up, it is important to use a support so that the open end of the bottom of the conga does not touch the ground.

They consist of an elongated wooden or fiberglass housing that serves as a soundboard for the instrument. This housing is wider at the center than at the ends, and when a drum has this shape, it is classified within the group of barrel drums. At the upper end of the congas is a membrane or patch made of animal or synthetic skin that, when hit, generates the characteristic sound of congas.

Wooden congas tend to have better sound quality than fiberglass congas, although they are less light and resistant. Among the wooden congas there are those formed by wooden planks joined together in a circular way. These are called congas de gajo. Another way to make wooden congas is to create the housing with a single piece of curved wood. This other type usually has thicker walls than congas de gajo.

The upper end patch or membrane is tensioned with a screw tension system that allows the congas to be tuned. This doesn't mean that the congas have to be tuned to any particular note. However, when played with harmonic instruments, they can be tuned to specific notes.

Types of Congas
Currently we can identify up to five different types of congas; the requinto, the fifth, the male, 3-2 or conga, the female or tumbadora and the rumbadora or the mambisa. These types differ from each other by their size and tuning. The larger the diameter of the membrane, the lower the sound will be.

Congas are often played in sets of 2 or 3 types of congas. The most commonly found in a congas set are the fifth, the conga and the tumbadora.