Before You Begin the Course
Here are clear, practical answers to the nine questions learners ask most frequently when setting up their instruments and starting Unit I.
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Do I need to read traditional music notation to follow this course?
No. Hand percussion has been transmitted orally and physically for centuries. Throughout our four units, we use plain eight-box counting grids (
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &) paired with spoken syllables. If you can count evenly to four while walking, you have every theoretical tool required. -
What size bongos should an adult beginner start with?
Choose a standard full-size pair featuring a 6.75-inch or 7-inch macho and an 8.5-inch hembra made of Siam oak, ash, or fiberglass, with mechanical tuning lugs (rather than tacked toy drums). Reliable beginner-to-intermediate instruments include the Latin Percussion (LP) Aspire or Matador series, Meinl Headliner or Journey series, and Gon Bops Fiesta series.
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My fingertips feel tender after 10 minutes. Am I striking the drum incorrectly?
Slight warmth in the fleshy pads of the fingers is normal during the first two weeks, but sharp pain on the bony joints means either your drums are angled too flat (causing your middle knuckles to hit the steel rim) or you are striking too forcefully. Tilt the bongos 15 degrees away from you, check that you are using the soft pads rather than bony tips, and cap daily practice at 15 minutes for the first 10 days.
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Should a left-handed player reverse the position of the drums?
Yes. Simply rotate the bongos 180 degrees so the smaller macho sits on your right and the larger hembra sits on your left. In all our counting charts, mentally swap "L" and "R" so your right hand plays the steady thumb-finger rocker and your dominant left hand plays the off-beats and Beat 4 hembra tone.
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Why do my bongos sound dull or papery when I take them onto the grass?
Two factors happen simultaneously outdoors: first, soft turf absorbs downward sound waves that would normally bounce off a wooden living-room floor; second, outdoor humidity slightly slackens rawhide skins. Place a firm plywood board or heavy woven mat under your stool feet, sit within 2 metres of a garden wall or hedge for reflection, and bring your 13 mm spanner to raise the tension by a quarter-turn if needed.
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Can I mount my bongos on a stand instead of holding them between my knees?
Absolutely. If gripping the drums between your calves causes knee or lower-back discomfort, use a seated height-adjustable bongo stand with a strap-lock cradle. Angle the stand slightly away from you at the same height your knees would hold them.
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How high should I tune the smaller macho drum safely?
The 7-inch macho is tuned fairly taut to produce its signature dry pop, while the hembra is tuned a fourth or fifth lower for warm resonance. Never crank a natural rawhide macho into an extremely high, choking pitch outdoors, and always detune it by two full turns before storing the instrument overnight.
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How many people make an ideal garden drumming group?
Three to six players is the sweet spot for an unamplified garden circle. With three or four players, everyone can hear every subtle finger ghost note without playing loudly, and conversation between turns feels natural and unhurried.
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What other small instruments pair well with bongos in a quiet park session?
Avoid loud brass cymbals or heavy sticks. Pair your bongos with rosewood claves, a soft woven caxixi or gourd shaker, a brushed cajón, or a medium conga played gently with fingers. These instruments blend effortlessly at conversational volume.