Bongo techniques involve more individual fingers while congas use more of the whole hand. TechniqueĪlthough both congas and bongos are played with hands, each instrument requires different techniques to produce the sounds. The beginnings of salsa were established when the bands in Cuban and the United States started playing with both congas and bongos (and timbales). The congas was added to Cuban Ensembles in the 1930s, while bongo had been played since the late 1800s. Originīongo was used in the dance band orquestras of Cuban decades before the conga drum was adapted to these groups. You will see a drummer playing on one conga, but you’re not likely to see someone playing one bongo drum - just the macho. Congas can be mounted two drums on one stand, but it’s not the same. The fact that bongo has two drums connected to one another is the most fundamental design difference between the two. The waves come back to the origin of the wave faster in a kiddie pool and lose energy. I didn’t think I was going to get to scientific, but think of it like dropping a big rock in a round swimming pool versus dropping a rock in a small kiddie pool. Plus, the bongo heads are proportionally tighter, further restricting the travel of waves moving through the drum head to one end and back. You can play a slap on bongo like you would play a slap on congas, but even then the sound is different because we’re back to the drum size difference.Ĭonga sounds have more resonance because the waves that travel through the drum head can move farther before bouncing back and canceling out sound. Bongo sounds are made with mostly fingers, while congas more often incorporate the entire hand. The way the sounds are produced is also a major difference. The drums are smaller, so they just can’t impact the soundscape like a conga drum. Soundsīongo sounds are higher in pitch and thinner in terms of the air that they move. Related: Best Replacement Head for Congas or Bongo – Real or Fake? 2. Congas are larger in diameter, and the depth of the shells is much larger than on bongo.Īlthough sizes for each type of drum can vary from one model to another, the following sizes are the most common among the top brands. The size of the drums is the most obvious difference between congas and bongos. Let’s get into the specific characteristics of these drums. Add timbales to the two, and you have the battery of most salsa-based Latin jazz groups, as well as many of the timba ensembles of modern Cuban popular music. Today, congas and bongos (really called bongo) are one of three main drum parts in a salsa ensemble. Additionally, the development of these instruments have some similarities and differences - being rooted in the Afro-Atlantic exchanges, yet spawning from different Cuban ensembles.Ĭompare Karaoke Speaker vs PA Speaker: What’s the Difference? Regardless of how knowledgeable some may be about congas or bongo, I try to give all requests the benefit of the doubt and get to the part where good music is played and appreciated.Īlthough size matters a lot when comparing congas and bongos, the sounds, design, techniques, and patterns are just as different. Since I am trained in Afro-Cuban percussion and music, my brain is wired for the stark contrast these instruments present. It’s not actually a question for many people because perhaps they haven’t thought much about it. Half of the time, if I’m asked to play “bongos,” I end up playing congas, further confusing the congas vs. I guess the Incredible Conga Band wouldn’t have been as marketable, especially considering people still ask me to play my bongos. There are vines to swing on, hazards to avoid, things to smash and explode, and puzzles to figure out.The Incredible Bongo Band used both congas and bongos. In Monkey Bongo your goal is to feed the Toucans by throwing them bananas. Monkey Bongo is a game worth picking up that will have you wondering how helping monkeys feed toucans could be so enjoyable." "The game features a great 3D design, and each environment and character is a joy to look at. Anyone looking to see what happens when Angry Birds gets a healthy injection of creativity should check out Monkey Bongo" "Will give Angry Birds a run for it's money. Another amazing puzzle game from Pangea Software, the makers of Enigmo, Cro-Mag Rally, Nanosaur, and Bugdom!
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