Quick-Tip Conga Lessons
Intermediate level tutorials on how to play congas
Click here for the conga notation legend
Twenty intermediate lessons on fills, phrases and variations you can use to add some variety to your conga playing, curated to complement the rest of the curriculum here on the site. I strongly encourage you to watch and practice them in the order they appear, as each lesson builds on the concepts from the one before. Play along with the suggested loop under each video, and enjoy!
Part 1 · Lessons 1–3
Tumbao & Clave
How clave shapes the tumbao, and how to take it from one drum to two.
How to Play Tumbao in Clave
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Son Montuno 1
How to Play a Two-Drum Tumbao
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Palmieri Montuno 1
Tumbadora on the Two Side of the Clave
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Songo Montuno 1
Part 2 · Lessons 4–8
Tumbao Variations
Five lessons on simple variations you can use to add variety to your tumbao.
Essential Tumbao Variations
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Timba Montuno 1
Essential Tumbao Variations Part 2
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Modern Montuno 1
Essential Tumbao Variations Part 3
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Modern Montuno 2
Essential Tumbao Variations Part 4
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Songo Montuno 2
Essential Tumbao Variations Part 5
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Palmieri Montuno 2
Part 3 · Lessons 9–10
Fast Tumbao
The tumbao at faster tempos, on one conga and on two.
How to Play a Fast Tumbao
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Modern Latin Vamp 1
Fast Tumbao on Two Congas
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Up-Tempo Montuno
Part 4 · Lessons 11–13
Transitional Fills
Three lessons on transitional fills.
Transitional Fills
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Güiro & Clave
Transitional Fills Part 2
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Güiro & Clave
Transitional Fills Part 3
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Güiro & Clave
Part 5 · Lessons 14–18
Simple Fills
Five lessons on simple conga fills, the last one inspired by Marc Quiñones.
Simple Conga Fills
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Modern Montuno 3
Simple Conga Fills Part 2
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Modern Latin Vamp 2
Simple Conga Fills Part 3
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Modern Montuno 1
Simple Conga Fills Part 4
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Modern Latin Vamp 3
Simple Fills Inspired by Marc Quiñones
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Modern Latin Vamp 1
Part 6 · Lessons 19–20
Baqueteo Fills
Two lessons on simple fills using the baqueteo.
Simple Fills Using the Baqueteo
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Modern Latin Vamp 2
Simple Fills Using the Baqueteo Part 2
SUGGESTED PLAY-ALONG: Palmieri Montuno 1