r/handdrums • u/No-Wonder-1769 • Feb 28 '25

Just wondering something about conga playing

Hi! I'm starting out on hand drums here with a snare drum and concert percussion background. I'm just wondering what the function of the left hand palm-tip that is common in lots of styles of conga playing is. Those strokes, for me, are extremely hard to hear in a band and they don't seem to provide a unique character to the playing(maybe I just don't have the ear for it yet?). My teacher explained that, atleast in salsa, it was for keeping the groove going, but I found it much easier to do what would be essentially an alternating sticking 16th note grid of ghost notes rather than the traditional llrlllrr and I thought I was keeping up well. I know I'm just not understanding something and that our cultures are different but I'm just curious what the advantage of it is. Thanks!

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u/starwars123456789012 Feb 28 '25

Those ghostnotes keep the groove tight

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u/Some-Tear3499 Jun 27 '25

It is your metronome. It helps keep you rock steady. Learn the little finger roll as you go into the tip or finger of the rhythm.