bongo drums

The bongos consist of two small conical drums that are attached to one another by a wooden block or metal bridge. One end of each bongo drum is covered by a stretched membrane and the other end is left open. One of the drums, the hembra (meaning female) is larger than the other, the macho (meaning male).

Today, bongo drums are being played in Cuban music, Afro-Cuban jazz, Latin music, but also in a many other styles such as soul and funk music, and so it's good to initiate drum lessons for kids and enrich their musical talents.

They are traditionally played by striking the edge of the drumheads with the fingers and palms. The glissando used with bongó de monte is done by rubbing the third finger, supported by the thumb, across the head of the drum. The finger is sometimes moistened with saliva, or sweat before rubbing it across the head.

Bongo Drums always come as a pair. The “hembra” which means female, is larger than the “macho”, the male drum. The two drums are always played together and never individually. On average most bongo drums have a diameter between 5.9-8.66 inches (15 -22cm).

Bongo Flava (or Bongoflava) is a nickname for Tanzanian music. The genre developed in the 1990s, mainly as a derivative of American hip hop and traditional Tanzanian styles such as taarab and dansi, with additional influences from reggae, R&B, and afrobeats, to form a unique style of music.

Congas & Bongos - Bongos and congas are normally notated on a two lined staff, with one line representing each of the drums. An additional line may be added for a third drum. The top line represents the highest-pitched drum. A cross- shaped notehead is used for muted drums.

History. Bongo Flava is a large divergent evolution of muziki wa kizazi kipya, meaning "music of the new generations", which originated in the middleclass youth of Kinondoni District of Dar es Salaam between the mid-1980s and 1990s.

The ecological importance of bongos is not fully understood. Since they are so secretive, scientists often find it difficult to gather data on them. As browsers they are important to the habitats they live in by keeping vegetation from becoming overgrown. They also serve as prey items for leopards and sometimes hyenas.

I can see a store cupboard containing bean bags and bongo drums. At night the bongo drums come out. I was an unconventional character, enjoying practical jokes and playing the bongo drums. The rhythm of the church bongo drums had reverberated throughout the village for nearly two hours the previous evening.

Fun Facts. Bongos are the largest forest antelope. Native people believe if they eat or touch bongo they will have spasms similar to epileptic seizures. Because of this superstition, bongos have been relatively unharmed in their native ranges.

Interesting Facts about Drums and Drumming

• Drums were with us from the dawn of mankind.
• Modern configuration of drum sets become in use during first years of 20th century.
• Brushes that create softer drum sound were used in drumming ever since 1920s.
• Drums are the most important part of the rhythm section of any band.

The size of the drums is the most obvious difference between congas. And bongos congas are larger in diameter. And the depth of the shells is much larger than on bongo.