Posture and basic hand position on the Congas
There are two ways to play conga drums. One is from a seated position and the other is standing. It is typical for a percussionist who plays a number of other drums and instruments to have the drums on stands so that they can be played in a standing position. This allows the player more freedom to move about from instrument to instrument. Musicians, who on a given gig will only be playing congas, often choose to play seated. A standard arrangement is to have the conga sized drum between your legs with the tumba to your right and the quinto to your left side. Left-handed players sometimes reverse these positions. Since the quinto is a high pitched, loud, solo drum, sometimes players put the quinto in the center when they are doing solo work rather than rhythmic support.
Posture
Sit tall on the edge of your seat and be sure to drop your shoulders! This will insure a good tone and easier playing. While one can play a drum like a djembe seated on an ordinary chair, I find that a conga really needs to be played seated slightly higher. Of course it depends upon your bodysize. My advice is to spend a bit more money and buy a cheap drum throne. These seats are designed to be relatively comfortable (important for long playing sessions!) and can easily be adjusted to the height you find most comfortable. Another advantage of a drum throne is that without a backrest it keeps you from leaning back in your chair. You should NEVER play that way! The Conga player should never slump when playing, but rather sit tall and at the ready.
Position yourself with one conga between your legs while sitting down. If you tilt the drum slightly away from yourself, you allow the drum to breathe from the bottom, offering better tonal qualities. This is common among seated players. Your shoulders are relaxed – so relaxed you should be able to put a drumstick under each arm and practice your techniques that way. Your forearms are parallel to the floor, and your back is straight. All of your practicing should be done with this relaxed position in mind. Finally, envision a glass shelf 6—8″ above the conga head. When you practice, try not to raise your hands high enough off the surface of the head to strike that glass. You will soon learn that relaxation and good technique beats power any day of the week. Remember that everything that goes for the right hand also goes for the left hand.
Position of the Hands, Legs and Feet
Place the hands flat on the conga so that they form a heart shape. Next, pull the hands back in a straight line until the phalange (back of the knuckles) reaches the edge of the drumhead. In order to project sound, the bottom of the conga needs to be tilted off of the ground. If you’re right-handed, the left heel and calf wrap around the conga to comfortably hold it in position while the right foot is placed behind the conga at a 90 degree angle. It can help your tone if the drums to your right and left are placed on low stands that elevate them an inch or so off the floor. Conga manufacturers sell rubber conga feet that work for this purpose.
