Happy Birthday!!! You said that after a while life gets harder, but you’re making my life a lot easier with the great work you do. Keep being amazing and God bless
Happy birthday bro! I also want to thank you for giving of your time to help us learn to play the congas. I am a 67 year old percussionist for a Christian Latino church. I was blessed once again to find your site. God bless you always and remember bro there will always be people who will criticize only but do not produce anything positive like you are doing.
PEDRO L CRUZ hey bro it's good to see someone else my age interested in playing the conga learning and especially having someone like Eric to teaches in the way he teaches us how to play I've been blessed to find him keep playing bro and God bless
Happy birthday Eric, I am also a young buck at 66 in 2 weeks , thank you for all the positive lessons , how much practice time do you recommend each week ?
Yoooo this is the best tutorial, thank you Eric. Super helpful and I think you’ve really found the secret to slaps in that prep exercise with the wrist on the edge. Also the bridge idea rather than a cup. I’ve watched a lot of your channel and its so clear you are a fantastic student and that makes you a great teacher. Thank you 🙏🏽
Love what you're doing man. If you don't have this video in your training, you should teach a video on warm-up exercises before a conga player begins playing and a video on building up endurance and stamina. Keep up the good work!
Happy birthday bro! Enjoy it! Thanks so much for putting in so much time and work on these bids for is. It's like every Monday n Thurs is my birthday .lol. I appreciate you homie.
Hey man, im from germany and I've watched mass of your vids within the last six weeks when i bought myself the first Sets of three "Conga's". I've a drumming background for over 25 years and somehow found the joy of playing drums without a stick. The numerous sounds and it's techniques hooked me. Your Vids are helping me a lot!!! I haven't found a 1o1 teacher yet althoug i live nearby Berlin... my false... the thing is: 😊 I got 2-3 weeks of family free (2kids 2&5) traveling to USA... originally to play within the world series of poker, but my mind changed for that... so 😁 .. if it's somehow possible within this universe I'd like to meet you in person for Conga lessons/sessions. Of course I will pay for it and of course you could put it on RU-vid 😉, if useful. No stress! Love to hear your thoughts.. know you got family as well. #no stalking And happy birthday back than!
Finally this is the thing that Ive been waiting for, I do not have a teacher playing the conga back then you are now one of my teachers recently. I have self discovered that there are really that are more bassy than a snappy sound..thanks a bunch Eric!! Much love from the Philippines!! 🫶🏻
Some good advice and ideas for different sounding slaps on this one, especially changing the angle of the arm which I will incorporate. Thanks and many more years of playing with the minimum of pain!
Happy Birthday Eric Sir! Coincidentally We share same Birthday! Enjoy and Many Happy Returns of the Day! Wish this new Year of Ur Life turns out to very Peaceful & Prosperous! Thank U once again!
Minute 3:57 for those in a rush thx buddy God bless you! That injury on the thumb seems to work beneficially on your right hand slap but not promoting injury … safety comes first for everything 🎉
Happy Birthday Bro! The mug is amazing good job God bless her. Im one of the day one and thank you for the hard work you and the family go thru to put out these tutorial videos. For those haters...if you can do better shut up and try...try to do this. I bet you don't even know how to down load a RU-vid video play or read music. Don't hate congratulate! Peace!
Your video popped up on my feed. Im a piano playet but bought Timbales and Congas to get better at my rhythms, so I have been watching a lot of channels that from players and teachers. This really helped me. Whats trippy is that your shirt says August 1987 and I was born in August 1987! I assume you're a fellow August 1987 baby?
Thanks Eric, I find that injuries are a big issue as I’m 66 years old I need to be careful if I’m going to be able to play longer. The hand position is harder to maintain when hitting the other drums left or right and it’s easy to make a bad hit and hurt the thumb wrist area. I’m also nursing a former broken pinky finger on my left hand so I tape it always before playing.
Hey Eric. Love your videos man. You are an excellent player with great tutorials. I'm in the process of evolving from the old school Mongo Santamaria, Ray Barretto technique to the latest mano secreta approach and your videos really help. I was wondering if you are familiar with Carlos Martin (conga player on Turn the Beat Around and many other recordings) and also Henry Gibson (conga player on Superfly sound track)--both great conga players on rock and pop songs that are influenced by latin drumming but have their own unique rock/pop style. God bless you brother, you are very humble as well as talented.
Daaaaamnnn man. Cool!!!! I was watching this while playing it on my new Toca tumba and I'm getting it thanks to you. And I'm an old fart. Viejo. I'm just a hack but I enjoy playing the drums, especially my congas. I have a set of LP Aspire congas, small heads but I love them. This Toca is the first professional (?) conga that I've ever owned. Thank you for the lesson. Aaannnd Happy Freakin Birthday!!!!!!!!
Couldn’t get a pop the way you said, but tried the side hand cup thing and…POP. This might be weird… but could it be that different hand types have to hit the drum differently? Idk… finding the sound can be frustrating but your videos always makes practicing way more enjoyable. Thanks 🤙🏽
Eric, crazy but my close slaps are similar to yours plus it has always worked for me!!! Ever since I have been on the LP Giovanni galaxy congas they have improved my slaps LP Aspire congas stink they are just harder to play oh yes can't wait to sell them & get those meinl marathon exsclusive series congas!!!!
Happy birthday! Hmmm...I was taught that you have the slap down only when you dont need to have a muting hand on the drum and can achieve the same slap sound played very softly. It’s all physics but the slap has nothing to do with intensity or “air pocket” (as proven by Martinez and others who don’t cup). One should be able to have the same sound regardless of intensity and with no other hand on the drum. Injury happens when someone hasn’t learned how to get a great slap without hitting the drum hard.
Broski’s happy 😃 birthday 🎂 🥳you are the best and you have helped me soo much man I have watched all your vids 🥳 you are my dude bro for my birthday I really wanna meet you you are the best have the best day love you bro💙😭❤️🥺🥳🎂🎂
I have to try this, the slap sound is a challenge for me since I have thin fingers. I have been playing for many years but I still feel my slap is not good, it feels forced. I'm still searching for it to become more natural
Eric, how much does it matter when slapping if you play on stands or if your drums are on the ground? Im new to congas and i think i have it figured out, but i get a lot of low sound / reverberation from the bottom of the drum when i slap. I dont hear that when you slap. Thank you for your help.
I JUST SAW A Q&A VIDEO OF YOURS AND HEARD THAT YOU HAD HURT YOUR HANDS PLAYING LIVE. I DID THIS ONLY ONCE AT A WEDDING TO WHICH I WAS INVITED BUT NOT MIC'D. LIKE AN IDIOT I HIT THEM SO HARD THAT MY HANDS BLED FOR 2 DAYS. NEVER AGAIN AS NOW, THE SOUND PERSON MAKES SURE I CAN BE HEARD NO MATTER WHAT SONG I'M DOING. I ALSO MAKE SURE THE SOUND I WANT COMING OUT OF THOSE SPEAKERS IS RIGHT FOR ME AS I DO PERCUSSION. MY SOUND IS EXTREME HIGHS AND LOWS NO MIDS AT ALL. ONE OTHER ISSUE DO YOU GET THIS AT GIGS WHERE PLAYERS WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT DRUMS SHOULD SOUND LIKE DO THE SOUND CHECK FOR DRUMMERS!!!
The one thing for which is wish I had smaller hands. Aside from Mongo Santamaria, virtually all the great congueros have small hands that ‘slap’ much more easily. This vid is nonetheless helpful.
