It's cheesy to say, but it can really be like a language. You can learn some verb conjugations, get some grammar together and in theory you can start saying stuff. But when you start, if you're not actively working on it, your elocution/pronunciation will be garbage. Sounds like mushmouth and all the native speakers know it. You need to train your tongue and ears- learn what the right pronunciation really sounds like. This is the core of it. Congas, more than a lot of other instruments on the percussion side of things require a LOT of work in the front to get that pronunciation. And once things sound right, it usually ends up taking a lot of effort to produce those sounds. Clean, centered open tones, crispy slaps, etc- they all feel like you need to work twice as hard to really make them sound right. But after a while, your hands get harder and stronger and you end up needing to work less. And if you do it right, you end up lowering the risk of injury. It's a long path, but the right one. Cheers to you, Eric for putting this message out there.

Thats my boy. 🤣 from day one i always told myself wow he is doing all this for free how lucky we are. People hit that like button its free. 👍👍 thank you hermano for all the hard work

Good tutorials. I just started playing and I'm one of those sloppie ones. I'm a 73 retired Vietnam Vet looking to explore something new and I found it learning how to play congas. I'm gonna do it. Thanks

Keeping it real Bro! You continue to keep things fresh and always coming up with good and helpful exercises or patterns for everyone to learn. Keep the Great Work Eric!

You obviously love what you do and it shows in every video. Thank you!

thanks Eric. the rhythms you explain are great but..... the exercises have helped me greatly. Keep 'em coming sir. Respect!

You're great, man! Learning the bongos, so I'm enjoying your bongo videos! You have such a great sound.

👍👍 Thank You For Blessing Us With These Videos E. God Bless Bro.

Appreciate the videos, Eric. Love the exercises. I have learned the congas through youTube and this channel you put together has helped me tremendously. abrazos de San Diego

So precious and helpful, like the last one! Thanks for them!

Bang Boom Pow once again brother another great congas lesson video. Thank you for your great insight and teaching skills, helping me develop my ongoing conga conversation.

Gracias Maestro! Muchas felicidades.

Always make me smile. No slop slappin'! Thank you and grateful for the lesson. I was checking out Manito for some new heads for my Palladiums. Being a newbie I did not know about head thickness and which I should go with. Would you briefly explain what the differences are in head thickness sound, feel, and so on.

Eric thanks for the fast reply! Just thinking of moving aside my Quinto and use the larger size drums due to how they sound 👍🏻.

Don’t always come by with each posting of yours, Eric, but I always learn something valuable when I do. Fun to just noodle around your channel, or suggested postings, and land on something that catches my attention. You have a very user friendly teaching style that has me always coming back for more. Peace, hermano. ~ Mark

Thank goodness never played sloppy on congas when starting but since I have been on LP Giovanni galaxy congas they have improved my slaps with you Eric of course teaching me to improve & now I am professional on slaps now! I have always been the person who takes time since I have taken ballet & Pointe shoes as well & do ice dancing & even that takes time so when doing bongos & congas I am always making sure even when yes just sitting there grooving out to deep house lounge while playing bongos or congas or both that I am not sloppy! Yeah I am the crazy one once I get in the groove can't stop dancing while playing but always my technique is clean!

Eric, great lesson! Simple, but the kind of thing we all need. I still have to work on my non-dominant hand, and your lessons like this really help. And you're right...I don't need a tutor; you're my free teacher (and a great one at that)!! BTW...do you do private tutoring? So, thanks a million as always, friend! PS...I like the background music at the beginning...

Eric! Thank you .... You are our gold mine, learn so much from your technics ,no one else out there explains as well as you do.... keep coming ,para mas maltratos, lol . Saludos

Excellent!🔥 Saludos desde Puerto Rico🇵🇷

Muchas gracias y bendiciones es muy cierto conozco muchos asi

Awesome!!!

Excelente!!! Un fuerte abrazo desde Maturín Monagas Vzla. Bendiciones!!!

love the video! Can you make a few videos for people who want to learn but only have one conga??

compadre, thanks from Bogotá- Colombia

Excelent teacher and player

Thank you for your help may GOD repay you ten times over thanks brother.

Thanks legend

new subcriber and new to congas! beginner! Day 1!!!!

The difference between open tone and open slap is so hard to notice in your hand movement... yet such difference in sound 😲

superb, thanks a lot, salut from istanbul

Chico de oro, realmente

That’s it man, that’s it 👍🏾👍😅

THIS may be your most important lesson! We are in the rhythm section, for Pete’s sake, and 9 outta 10 there’s a drummer to lock in with. If we are sloppy we ain’t working amarite

First and your wellcome Eric.😉😉😉😉

Muy buenos videos te felicito, donde co praste ese mini shekere que tienes de colgante??

Dude, this is gooooood shit!

Dang. That describes me being impatient lol

Супер! Отличный звук!

Muy buenos videos pero si podes subi algunos videos de bongo en español muchas gracias

LMAO..NENENENENENENENEN. YOU ARE HILARIOUS.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also... another great practice app for you guys to download. Search Salsa Rhythm from District One Mobile. It’s fantastic. Create a loop from bass tumbaos, montuno pianos, clave direction, various Latin percussion patterns, musical key, tempo. Put your headphone on and enjoy. It’s like having a salsa band that you can control in your head!! Check it out. You’ll love it.

Hi Eric how r u. I Hope well...This is ALEX from Brasil...I'd like to know which skins are using on congas in this video? I've never seen those skins before...congratulation your wonderfull videos...Dios le bendiga

Niiiiiiiiiice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great ideas and technique! Just started with the congas after many years of drum set. What are those black heads please? Lord Have Mercy! Thanx so much😊

Gracias maestro,... soy Fernando Ferrer, profesor en el conservatorio de Guiana Francesa... dime, como puedo mandarte mi tumbao para que tu le enseñe en tus videos ?

this in taco. for please . for please . sisisi. yes. in taco en españisss, jajaajajaja. gracias.

Would the flam sound like the "Swiss- Army Triplet" then?

Wher u get those black skins?

It took me months and months to develop my non dominant hand .... however, there is always work to do as the non dominant hand is not as dominant as the dominant hand yet :).... and as with each exercise or gig the dominant hand also continues developing itself, that would mean the non dominant hand will never be as good as the dominant hand.... ai, mi dios santito, esto no parara nunca.... joy forever 🤣

Eric / wat kinda seat u sitting on / Thanks / Name / price. Thanks again ⁉️

Eric, What size drums are you using?

What is your set up for three? 2 congas and a tumba? Or quinto, conga & tumba?

Don't get the dislikes ..Eric is no amateur.

sloppy hey now well ok you got me - well maybe not all the time - ok all the time Was told never to apologize!

4:09 ...exercises begin.

don't play wimpy

Basically most congueros in Los Angeles