Conga lessons · Beginner course
Congas 101
Your step-by-step beginner's guide to the conga drum, taught by 2x Grammy winner Paulo Stagnaro.
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"I love the site! It's been great in helping re-work my basics."
Nick Rothouse · Percussionist for Maggie Rogers
The course
- Level
- Beginner, starting from zero
- Length
- 12 videos · 1 h 41 in total
- Taught in
- English · English and Spanish subtitles
- You'll need
- One conga is enough to start
- Free now
- Conga notation legend (PDF)
- With your trial
- All 12 videos, the tuning guide and the practice routine worksheet (PDF)
What you'll learn
- The anatomy of the drum and how to tune it
- Proper posture and hand position
- The five basic tones you can get from the drum
- How to warm up properly
- The palm-tip motion and the tumbao pattern
- A practice routine, with a video to play along with
So you're new to the conga, and you're not sure where to start.
We've all had to start from scratch. In Congas 101, I'll show you what to work on and in what order, with a practice routine you can come back to as you get comfortable with the drum. Watch the free previews below to see how I teach.
Watch three free previews
Short clips, 1 to 2 minutes each. Tap one to watch it full size. The full lessons come with your trial.
The full course
- 00Introduction
- 01Lesson 1 · The Anatomy of the Drum
- 02Lesson 2 · Tuning the Drum
- 03Lesson 3 · Posture and Hand Position
- 04Lesson 4 · Five Basic Tones
- 05Lesson 5 · How to Warm Up
- 06Lesson 6 · Essential Grooves
- 07Lesson 7 · The Palm-Tip Motion
- 08Lesson 8 · The Tumbao Pattern
- 09Lesson 9 · Practice Routine
- 10Practice Routine Play-Along
- 11Course Wrap-Up
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Practice with a real band from the first week
Members get play-along loops recorded by a real rhythm section. These are the four Congas 101 uses, all at comfortable tempos for you to learn with.
Played by Axel Tosca (piano), Oscar Stagnaro (bass), Ramon Stagnaro (guitar) and Paulo Stagnaro (percussion). Mixed by Gabo Lugo.
What members are saying
"Conga Chops is Paulo's response to the lack of quality conga instruction on the internet, and it's exactly what the percussion community has been needing! His step by step videos help you break down grooves/rudiments with clean sound and technique, which can be overlooked learning from a method book. I wish Conga Chops was around when I started playing!"
"When I started studying congas, I had so many questions about how to play properly, and there were not many reliable resources online. When Paulo launched Conga Chops, he answered all of my questions and more. The knowledge and instruction available on the site are incredible, and the practice loops have become the basis of my regular playing routine. Conga Chops will keep me occupied in the shed for years!"
"Paulo! I just wanted to thank you for the excellent material here on Conga Chops! It's incredibly valuable and actionable information, both for those who are just starting out and for all of us who are already out here playing! It has been very useful to me! The tracks, the rudiments, the rhythms! Thank you so much! I'm here to stay, long live CongaChops!"
Your trial also unlocks
Questions before you start
I've never played. Is this course for me?
Yes. Congas 101 starts from zero: the parts of the drum, tuning, how to sit and hold your hands, and your first sounds.
Do I need three congas?
No. You can start with one conga and add drums when you're ready.
Is it in Spanish?
Paulo teaches this course in English, and every lesson has English and Spanish subtitles.
Where do I start once I join?
Open Congas 101 from Courses and start with the Introduction. Every lesson is open from day one, so you can go at your own pace.
How does the free trial work?
You get 7 days with every course, masterclass and loop. Sign-up asks for a card, and you can cancel anytime from your account before the 7 days are up.
What comes after Congas 101?
Conga Fundamentals, then Groove Toolbox. Your trial opens every course; nothing is locked.
Start Congas 101 and get access to the entire CongaChops library with your 7-day free trial
Tune up, learn your five basic tones and play your first tumbao along with a real band.
Start your 7-day free trialRisk free. Cancel anytime.