Hi. I've been reading the comments and saw that many people said that this was wrong and everything... and i agreed. The TRADITIONAL songo, invented by changuito, is different... but not that different. I am from Puerto Rico and I've seen many drummers play and in many churches and they play the same thing that you taught on this vid. Very helpful BTW. The thing is that personally it helped me Huge time.!!! And remember, we christians, we don't play for any body but God!!! Que Dios te bendiga Siempre!!! Saludos desde Puerto Rico!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing this video it really helped me out. I tried to have people show me how to play but it never worked out and you did really great you shouldn't be nervous you're a great teacher. GBU
Hey Cesar. This was fantastic. I've been a drummer for 40 years and am looking to branch out and Songo really interests me. So, I went to my "go to" RU-vid teacher Mike Johnston (check out his Songo). But the way you play this "behind the beat" and the difference in volume between ghost and full notes is what really makes it authentic and soooo sweet. And the part where you just improvise within the groove is just amazing. thank you for sharing your gift. God Bless. Happy Easter. Joe
Yes this is very true. You gotta be careful sometimes because music is a super SUPER sensitive subject because the enemy can enter in the slightest chances where we don't expect, Even in some of our playing for our church.
Hello, from Racine, Wisconsin. Bro you sound good..... I struggle a lot on my songo beats. I use both hands on high hat and my right hand to hit the snare. Once I switch to hit a cowbell or cymbal I mess up! lol god bless you.
Thanks for making this, this groove is a beast when you first try to learn it. You should make more videos, just use a better camera/mic next time, you're a good teacher.
Alex Rosario thank you bro . i apprecciate that. this video wasnt made so seriously just for fun. i didnt imagine people actually watching it. but i think i should upload a better version soon.
Tremendo Hermano sige palante con ese talento que Dios te a dado Dios te bendiga.. y si estas tocando bien como debes asi es el Songo que siempre escuchado en la iglesias y asi es como se toca con fuego y poder!!!
Gran leccion Cesar, se notaba que estabas nervioso pero la parte del final cuando te sueltas ufff impresionante man, I uploaded a drum lesson about songo too, but you're drumming is way better than mine Saludos desde Chile, un abrazo brother.
hey . I'm a drummer myself and can never seem to get this beat right . Is there any chance you can make another video breaking it down step by step with better views ? Thanks godbless
And to add, you posted that the last R is actually the first note, but then you would only have 15 notes instead of sixteen and I notice no rest in you playing for the missing 16th note. I love this pattern, it is the best songo on here! I'm a linear freak! And once again God bless!
When i made this video i just did it off the top of my head lol. But yea this is because the first three notes in the first beats are triplets i believe. then the last three beats become three set of linear 16ths
If you notice your pattern examples include 5 hi hats but is still with 16 notes, but when you repeat the bar you only use 4 strikes on the hi hat. Are you losing the last double stick on the hi hat in the ghosting of the notes? Or is there a mistake in the pattern you posted. Truly amazing drummer by any standard and feel. God bless.
amen Carlos. I completely agree. but songo is not only played in churches. thoes who do play in churches know that there isn't a "right" way. because if you give God your all there shouldn't be that. but songo isn't only played in church so this video was made to simply teach the beat. not trying to diss anyone. just showing how the rhythm is shown. and to help thoes that want to improve their songo in churches because I know many people who play it very basic. Glory always be to God
Sorry but i dont know which american drummer changed the actual rhythm of songo, but what you are playing is partly songo but not the authentic songo, traditions in Cuba are respected if you want to hear songo listen to one of its true creators Jose Luis quintana aka Changuito.
Much respect bro. God bless.. I was wondering if you could have that guy playing bass make a video on how to play songo on the bass? I'm trying to learn but I haven't been able to find a good video that truly takes you through it.
Can I share something with you Carlos, Songo is a rhythm for percussion originated in Havana Cuba by the great percussionist Jose Luis Quintana. This pattern is purely for drumset, timbales, congas only what the bass plays is Tumbao and if you want to learn from the best in Cuba look up Feliciano Arango who played with NG la Banda he is mad, but of course also Juan Formell as a reference points. Good luck and stay in clave y que siga la tradicion.
Sounds good bro.Yo estoy estudiando la tecnica de un baterista llamado Rodney barreto.Buena manera de enseñar los patrones solo que uno le busca las variantes.
It's nice thanksfor the thought but I like the way ELVIN JONES PLAYS---THAT. IT HAD MORE COLOR AND FINESSE WHAT YOU DO IS COOL FOR DISCO AND DANCE WHICH I LIKE TOO BUT IT DOSEN'T MAKE AS MUCH POLY-RYTHEM
God bless my brother. I know you trying to show ppl a new way to play songo. But with all respect my brother, this is not the correct way either. The traditional songo that originated from Cuba is alot more simple. but there's so many variations of songo now, that pretty much, there is no right way. just a traditional way. I don't do my songo the traditional way either, I like to add flavor to mine with more dynamics on it. But I believe yoi used the wrong word. Instead of right, should've said a different variation. but my brother God bless you. no hard feelings. from Springfield Mass. God bless
lol the right way? dude you are playing it the way western guys do. if there is such a thing as the right way it's the way they play it in cuba. and the right way would definitely have swing. it should pull back slightly and be loose. you don't have to ghost every time, you would play the side of the floor tom with your right hand not the hi-hat, the bass drum would only play on the 2nd beat of the clave with an extra beat used as a variation (but you played it every time), and you'd use cross-stick as well as rim shot and include the toms. check out dafnis prieto and horacio hernadez to see what i mean.
That's actually the way I learnt it back in school as well. You could play this in a lot of situations and get away with it but it's definitely not the right way. You just have to get into Latin music to hear what I mean. Check this out "Michel Camilo - Caribe". Peace
Try to SLOW DOWN YOUR ENERGY !!! . . the tempo ! The rhythm will make people dance. . Your energy is killing you !!!! MAKE THE PEOPLE DANCE !!! The secret is contained there!!!.. . Slow down the tempo, my babies !!! God Bless ! I admire your talent !
Sick vid, bro. An idea I got from Mike Johnston is while playing your songo groove, place your hand away from the hi-hat (put it on a cowbell or the bell of your ride) and with your left foot, splash the hats and follow it with two taps. When you count it, it'd be 1+2 3+ 4. (+ are the "ands" or upbeats) It's hard at first but it takes your groove to a whole new level. Trust me, at church I don't have a conga player nor a bass player so I have to maintain it busy haha. Hope this help, God Bless!
Bro with due respect, I'm cuban and as you may know by now the version that you teach is not traditional songo. But that's not the biggest problem, the issue here is that you don't follow the clave, it's like you're trying to play rock or something else. That's why some drummers recommend not to play this pattern of songo if you want to play salsa, it sounds far from salsa. I hope that you clave have improved by now. With love bro, God bless!
Thank you for your input. I didn't really know what I was doing when I made this video. It was for fun. never thought it would get this many views as it did. God bless you.
