Playing Bongo Drums

Before you begin playing bongo drums, you want to make sure you are positioned correctly. Bongo drums are most commonly played while sitting down, although there are stands available on the market that allow you to play them standing up. I believe that the more comfortable you are, the better. So, if you prefer to stand then do so.

For those who wish to sit, place the bongos between your legs, using the knees to support them. If you find that your knees are uncomfortable, there are some bongo knee pads available that help to alleviate some of the stress that the playing the drums puts on your knees.

The larger drum (hembra) should be on the right side, unless of course you are left handed.

INCORRECT:Bongos should not sit parallel to floor.

CORRECT: You want to make sure that the heads are tilted away from you just slightly so that you are hitting them at a slight angle. This makes performing some of the more advanced techniques easier to play.

You should also keep the smaller, macho drum a little bit higher than the hembra for ease of playing.

Keep your arms relaxed and in a comfortable playing position. You can rest your arms on your thighs if you prefer. Although, some patterns and tones will require you to not be a lazy bum.

As I mentioned previously, if you find that holding your bongo set is uncomfortable, you might want to try some knee pads.

Gon Bops Bongo Knee Pads Standard Get a comfortable grip on your bongos while remaining on your feet.

There is also a huge selection of Bongo Stands available that can ease the strain of trying to hold the bongos while playing them. Definitely worth checking out.

See My Other Lessons On Playing Bongo Drums.