Editing Conga (section)

==Playing techniques==
[[File:Eliel-lazo DSC04968.jpg|thumb|right|Playing three congas; one microphone is for the vocals and the other for the congas.]]

===Strokes===
====Strokes with one hand====
* 1. ''Tono abierto''. Open tone.
* 2. ''Tono ahogado (apagado)''. Muffled tone.
* 3. ''Tono seco abierto''. Open slap.
* 4. ''Tono seco tapado''. Pressed slap.
* 5. ''Tono seco cerrado''. Closed slap.
* 6. ''Tono bajo de palma''. Bass tone.
* 7. ''Tono de talón de mano''. Heel tone.
* 8. ''Toque de punta de mano''. Tip tone.
* 9. ''Tono de uñas''. Fingernails tone.
* 10. ''Tono deslizado''. Glissando tone.

====Basic strokes====
There are four basic strokes in conga drumming:<ref name="Changuito">Quintana, Changuito & Hidalgo, Giovanni (1997).''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVM7nv4AtLA Evolution of the tumbadoras]''. Warner Bros Publications. VH0281.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Gary D. |title=Teaching Percussion |date=2019 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-1-337-67222-1 |page=269 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AhBEDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA269 |language=en}}</ref>
*Open tone (''tono abierto''): played with the four fingers near the rim of the [[head]], producing a clear resonant sound with a higher pitch than muffled and bass tones.<ref name="Evans" />
*Muffled, muted, closed of flesh tone (''tono ahogado'' or ''apagado'') or simply "muff": like the open tone, it is made by striking the drum with the four fingers, but holding the fingers against the head to muffle the tone. It can also be played with a cupped hand or the heel of the hand.
*Bass tone (''tono bajo''): played with the full palm, in a slightly cupped position, somewhat off center on the head. It produces a low muted sound.
*Slap tone (''tono seco'' or ''tapado''): the most difficult technique, producing a loud clear "popping" sound.<ref name="Evans">{{cite book |last1=Evans |first1=Bob |title=Authentic Conga Rhythms |date=1966 |publisher=Alfred Music |isbn=978-1-4574-4593-4 |pages=6–7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nZqp6pSjZboC&pg=PA6 |language=en}}</ref> The muted or pressed slap tone (''toque tapado normal'') involves playing an open tone while the other hand rests on the drumhead, which produces a higher pitch. There are open (''tono tapado abierto'') and half-open (''tono tapado semi-abierto'') variants, in which the playing hand briefly rests on the edge of the drumhead after the stroke, followed by another stroke with the other hand. When played at fast and short intervals, this is called ''floreo'', which is often used to instill emotion in the dancers.

Other strokes can be used to enhance the timbral palette of the instrument. They are not used by all drummers, but have become the hallmark of ''congeros'' such as [[Tata Güines]].
*Touch or toe tone (''toque de punta''): as implied by the name, this tone is produced by just touching the fingers or heel of the palm to the drum head. It is possible to alternate a touch of the palm with a touch of the fingers in a maneuver called heel-toe (manoteo), which can be used to produce the conga equivalent of drumrolls.
*Nails stroke (''toque de uñas''): played with the tip of the nails, usually finger by finger in quick succession, starting with the pinky.

====Glissando and pitch bending====
The ''deslizado'', ''moose call'' or ''[[glissando]]'' is done by rubbing the third finger, supported by the thumb, across the head of the drum. The finger is sometimes moistened with saliva or sweat, and sometimes a little coat of beeswax is put on the surface of the conga head to help make the sound.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ndBcvNX-BU| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/2ndBcvNX-BU| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live|title=How I do the Moose Call on the Conga Drums - Glissando Lesson|access-date=20 April 2021|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0lqCmpd1PM| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827143513/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0lqCmpd1PM| archive-date=2012-08-27 | url-status=dead|title=Conga Lesson - How to do a Moose Call|access-date=20 April 2021|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> The moose call is also done on the [[bongos]].

To [[pitch bend|bend the pitch]] of the congas, a ''conguero'' sometimes uses his elbow to shift around on and apply pressure to different parts of the head; this causes the note to change. This is not a traditional stroke, but it is common in modern salsa and rumba.