Congas are African drums that are now most closely associated with Latin American and Caribbean music. The first congas were made of wood and stood between 3 and 4 feet tall (.91-1.22m). Animal hide was used to cover the drumheads. They’re shaped like a teardrop and are usually played in pairs. Congas are similar to other percussion instruments such as the timpani in that the drumheads can be tuned by tightening them, usually in perfect fourths, but this can vary.
Because congas come in various sizes, there is some variation in the names given to them, as well as some debate about what each size should be called. Ricardo is the smallest size, which comes in sets of two, three, or four and can be worn over the shoulder. Congas are also known as requintos, quintos, congas, tumbas, and supertumbas, and are generally measured by the diameter of the drumhead. When more than one conga is paired, they are usually the same size.
Most conga players are skilled percussionists, and those who specialize in conga may be referred to as congueros in Latin America. Even a skilled percussionist must master the various techniques for playing these drums, which are struck with the hands rather than drumsticks. The manner in which the head is struck has a significant impact on the sounds produced. A deep base sound is produced by striking with the palm, and different finger strikes or touches produce different sounds. Furthermore, where you hit the drumhead has an impact on what you hear, and some hits to the center or side of the head are used to achieve different effects.
Congas are used in a wide range of Latin American and Caribbean music, and their various beats can be heard in samba, salsa, rumba, mambo, and a variety of other musical styles. Drums are sometimes used in percussion bands, and other times they are an essential part of percussion in much larger groups. Congas can be used solo for dramatic effect, as in the musical Hair, or they can be combined with other musical instruments to create wonderful full percussion sounds.
Congas used to be made entirely of wood and hide, but now there are fiberglass versions with heads made of a variety of synthetic materials. Quality drums are costly to buy, and heads, like most drums, need to be replaced from time to time. A single conga can cost anywhere from $80 to over $500 in the United States (USD).