Conga drums are an essential part of Latin music and a vital element of various rhythms and genres, especially salsa. This post will guide you through the basic techniques, history, and style of playing congas, emphasising their evolution in modern salsa music.
The Evolution of Conga Playing in Modern Salsa
In the late 80s and early 90s, the role of the conga player in salsa music began to evolve. Salsa percussion sections became more refined, with individual percussionists taking on more responsibilities, including helping to delineate sections and navigate the arrangement. This shift from the timbalero being the primary leader to a more collective approach among the percussion section became the foundation for modern salsa.
This change in salsa music, often called "commercialised salsa," brought more attention to the melody and arrangement, tightening up the "jam session-like" approach common in the 1960s and 1970s. Conga players began to pay more attention to the song's structure and how their rhythms interacted with other instruments, including melodic ones.
The Role of Congas in Salsa
In modern salsa music, conga players take a calculated approach to creating rhythms that support the song's arrangement.The role of the conga player is to create percussive grooves that complement the rest of the song. This transition from the more freeform, less organised style of Salsa Dura to modern salsa is marked by tighter arrangements influenced by American pop, funk, and R&B.
Aquel Amor de Fuego by Tito Nieves
Tito Nieves's song "Aquel Amor de Fuego," from his 1991 album Déjame Vivir, shows how salsa music was changing at the time. The rhythm section—Bobby Allende on congas, Ray Colón on bongos, and Marc Quiñones on timbales track—helped shape the sound of 1990s salsa, making it more polished and danceable for new audiences.
Conga Techniques - Tumbao Patterns and Dynamics
The basic conga pattern is known as the tumbao, which is essential for playing salsa music. In Aquel Amor de Fuego, the conguero starts the second verse by playing the tumbao on one drum. The pattern alternates between one-bar and two-bar versions, with the conga player subtly implying the direction of the clave, which is essential in salsa.
As the song progresses, the dynamics change and the conga player adapts by playing a one-bar tumbao to support the soft sections without distracting from the vocals and performance.
The Importance of Sectional Changes
A key element of salsa music is the section changes throughout the song. In Aquel Amor de Fuego, there is a unison break at the end of a verse that creates space in the arrangement. This allows the timbalero to set up the next section with a beautiful roll, helping to create a smooth transition into the chorus.
The chorus features a vocal typical of many pop and R&B songs. The conga player supports the rhythm with the centralgroove played on one drum, while the timbalero switches to the contra campana pattern, and the bongos play with improvisation. Learning to play the conga drum involves more than just mastering a pattern—it's about understanding the evolution of salsa music and how the conga fits into the broader arrangement. We recommend focussing on the playing dynamics, the rhythmic patterns and section change to add groove to the music and keep learning and exploring salsa techniques to deepen your understanding of contemporary Latin music.
