The Conga Drum or Cuban Tumbadora ~ Salsa Instruments ~ History and Development of Salsa ~ www.justsalsa.com

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The Conga Drum or Cuban Tumbadora

The tumbadora, also known as the conga drum, is made from a shell of elongated wood. The instrument is held between the knees of the musician or hung from the shoulders with a strong leather belt. The musician strikes the drum with the palms of his hands. To extract a short, muted sound the edge of the drum is struck with the left palm. To produce a deeper sound, the center of the drum is struck with the right hand. The tumbadora is essential to all Latin rhythms, particularly Afro-Cuban rhythms to which it adds a major rhythmic force approaching that of the double bass within an orchestra. This typically African instrument is an indispensable part of conga rhythms which is why the tumbadora is also known as the conga drum.

Translated by Maureen Turner from Historia de la Música Cubana by Elena Perez Sajurjo

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