Profile of the Conga Drum

Name of Instrument:

Conga drum

Family:

Percussion

How to Play:

The musician strikes the drumhead with his fingertips or palms of his hands.

Types:

Conga drums come in a variety of sizes and shapes, each possessing its' own unique sound. The smallest is called niño and the largest is the tumba. Players use any one, a combination or all the four sizes of congas.

First Known Conga Drums:

Conga drums are believed to have roots from both Cuban and African music. It is often referred to as "an Afro-Cuban barrel-shaped drum". Nowadays, congas have adjustable drumheads and are used in Latin-American music.

Musicians Who Use Conga Drums:

Conga players are called congueros and some notable congueros are Giovanni Hidalgo, Candido Camero and Poncho Sanchez.

Additional Conga Drum Resource:

• Music of Puerto Rico
  
• Drum Dojo
  
• A History of the Conga Drum by Nolan Warden (PDF)