Tuning Quinto & Tumba
Work Hard
recommend?
many thanks,
Jamie
bja...@users.iwaynet.net
When I play a quinto and tumba I usually tune them to a fourth
That would be for example, tuning the quinto to a C and the
tumba to a G. While the interval from G up to C is a fourth,
musically it is actually a fifth. Like C up to the fifth "G"
but then an octave lower. The root-fifth thing is a common
figure in latin music. Of course you don't always use C-G because
it can depend on what key the music is in, size of the drums, etc.,
but I find that interval works even though you are tuning the
Quinto down. If I wanted to tune the quinto up more I think I'd
tune both drums up keeping the inverval the same. And we are
talking about playing without a conga here.
Does this help?
Benj
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Nobody
I have a LP performer series quinto, conga and tumba. How would you tune
those?
I have had them pretty low but I have tuned the higher because we are adding
a stick drummer to our worship band and my guru Charles Barrette told me I
need to tune them up so they would cut thru.....
<bja...@users.iwaynet.net> wrote in message
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Nobody
I have been playing a 14" key tuned, type 2 FIBERSKYNŽ 3 head, kinte cloth
djembe for about a year in different worship groups. I am going to have to
give it back to my friend that I have been borrowing it from. He doesnt
really want to sell it. I can get one for $165 new. I am trying to decide
what to get to replace it. I know I want a fiber skin type. I have congas
and some African djembes but I use the remo in our smaller group because of
its variety of sounds and ease of play and transport. I am trying to decide
between a 14" Arthur Hull Ashikos and Key-Tuned Paulo Mattioli Djembes a 14
or 16".
What is the difference in sound from a djembe or a ashiko?
also i am going to mexico on a mission trip this summer and need something
smaller that i can take with me. any ideas on that?
thanks and blessings to the group members,
mark
bja...@users.iwaynet.net
> Hay Benj,
> I have a LP performer series quinto, conga and tumba. How would you tune
> those?
> I have had them pretty low but I have tuned the higher because we are adding
> a stick drummer to our worship band and my guru Charles Barrette told me I
> need to tune them up so they would cut thru.....
The thing you have to know with congas is that the thing that really
"cuts through" is the open tone. And even if you are playing with
drumsets or djembes, if you can put out a good strong open tone
it will cut through everything like a knife! The rest of conga sounds
tend to be totally lost in other drums unless you are heavily miced or
something. So does tuning up help? Well usually yes, but the key isn't
up or down but rather where does the DRUM want to sing... Usually each
drum has this tuning range where the open notes really sing out.
That is where you want to be. Generally it's not tuned down low.
But it's not tuned super high either. It's just that "sweet spot".
As for tuning three congas, this has lots of variations. I myself
like to keep the fourth interval SOMEWHERE among the drums just
because it's a constant feature of the music. So you can us the
usual 4th interval between conga and tumba with the quinto higher
by some interval or make the quinto-tumba a 4th with the conga in
between. I often like that with the conga-tumba a 3rd. Another thing
I like is to set up the 4th thing and then tune the third drum
a 2nd or minor 2nd away. This creates a really neat "car horn"
or "chopsticks" effect when you hit both drums together. So I
don't think there is a definitive answer here. it just depends
on the music and what you think works for you.
stu
Take a look at the meinl headliner wood djembe. It's 12"x 25" very portable
but very fat sounding. 299 list, so you can usually find it for about $175..
It's very convenient, yet not plastic headed.
I've been playing one the last couple of days, and love it..
http://www.headliner.de/djembe.html
Djembes and ashikos are very similar; you may find the djembe to have a bit
deeper bass, a bit easier slap, but the ashiko to have a bit more mid range,
and easier open tones..a lot depends on the head, of course..
16" is the most unrealistic of REMO djembe sizes...especially the key tuned;
very un-djembe-like..
just one opinion of course..
regards
stu
Work Hard
thanks, that's very helpful indeed. I actually intended to buy the Quinto &
Conga, but the website (www.thomann.de) employed different model numbers to
Meinl's website, and so I ended up with an 11" quinto and a 12 1/2" tumba.
I'm not very experianced, but I hope this won't be a problem. If it is, I
can always order the 11 1/2" conga too. What do you think? The pair I have
sound great as they are to my ears.
many thanks,
Jamie
bja...@users.iwaynet.net
> Hi Benj,
> thanks, that's very helpful indeed. I actually intended to buy the Quinto &
> Conga, but the website (www.thomann.de) employed different model numbers to
> Meinl's website, and so I ended up with an 11" quinto and a 12 1/2" tumba.
> I'm not very experianced, but I hope this won't be a problem. If it is, I
> can always order the 11 1/2" conga too. What do you think? The pair I have
> sound great as they are to my ears.
> many thanks,
> Jamie
Jamie,
Personally I PREFER the quinto-tumba combo over conga-tumba
or quinto-conga! The reason is that you down-tune the quinto a bit
to make the usual inteval of a 4th between the drums and now you've
got one drum with terrific bass notes and the other with killer slaps.
As for 3 conga drums, if you have the usual ouchy teacher, he'd probably
tell you that if you can't play it on ONE drum you shouldn't try it on
even TWO!!! I understand the thinking behind that and I sort of agree,
but still I find nothing wrong with learning on two congas. It gets
you used to "reaching" over for the other notes. But, I wouldn't worry
about three congas until you get more advanced. That point would be
when you can play along with most anything on two congas, but are
starting to feel that you'd like to be playing rhythms that are a
bit more "melodic". If you are inexperienced that will be a while.
Sounds to me like you are doing fine and now just need to dig in
and practice! Good Luck!
Work Hard
bja...@users.iwaynet.net
> Many thanks again Benj, just got to get some stands for them & I'm off!
> Jamie
Stands? We doan need no stinkin' stands!
(unless you are playing percussion and need to move
about from instrument to instrument)
Seriously, if you are only playing congas, play them seated in the
traditional fashion. They'll sound much better! Actually,
you'll want feet or something under the tumba so you
get cool bass out of it. See my website for how to
make a nifty base out of LP feet that does that.
Oh my! I'm starting to sound like Naznomo!
Work Hard
> (unless you are playing percussion and need to move
> about from instrument to instrument)
I play standing up on stage, so stands are utterly neccesary. At home I sit
down and cradle the drums without stands tho, which is much nicer and more
intimate.
> Seriously, if you are only playing congas, play them seated in the
> traditional fashion. They'll sound much better! Actually,
> you'll want feet or something under the tumba so you
> get cool bass out of it. See my website for how to
> make a nifty base out of LP feet that does that.
>
> www.Iwaynet.net/~bjacoby
I have a strictly 'No DIY' lifestyle; it's about the only think I'm strict
on. The base looks good, though!
J.
Steve Vallee
toppling like giant bowling pins. I use the cheap Toca sit-down stands
(..oxymoron?). They still raise them too high so I got the conga size stand
for the quinto, the tumba stand for the conga and a modified LP stand for
the tumba. They keep them about an inch or so above the floor.
SV
<bja...@users.iwaynet.net> wrote in message
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bja...@users.iwaynet.net
> I have a strictly 'No DIY' lifestyle; it's about the only think I'm strict
> on. The base looks good, though!
"NO DIY" Lifestyle? No Problemo! Send me a hundred bux and I'll
make one for you!!! <grin>