DrummerCA35
Senior Member
So, I play in a 5 piece band. Bass/drums/keys/guitar/lead singer. Some of the songs we do have percussion intros (ie, bongos/congas/cowbell/etc).
One example is Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Allright" which of course has that conga and/or bongo thing with the piano intro. After some trial and error trying to simulate it on toms, or hi-hat or whatever, and just decided to play a funky beat over the intro. (Sort of similar to the feel of Levon Helm's "Cripple Creek" beat.) Yeah I know that sounds weird. Trying to simulate congas on the toms and/or tom rims never sounded right to me when I tried it and nor did I want to haul around a set of congas or bongos, if even portable ones. It seems to have worked out fine playing a funky beat.
Another example is "Rapper's Delight" which has the congas/cowbell percussion intro. Same thing- after trying it different ways, I play a funky beat incorcorating the cowbell. It seems to work fine, and we recorded our demo with me doing this.
Now we are considering the "Cheerleader" song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGflUbPQfW8 and this song has lots of congas, the beat is often just bass drum and conga with no snare (so it sound to me). Again I'm wondering what would sound best. Quarter notes on the bass drum and some rack toms/rims? Again, never had much luck simulating congas with rack toms. I've wondered about getting a set of those portable congas that are pretty much just the heads, but it's something else to lug....
Wondering what are some approaches you guys take when doing these kinds kinds of tunes when there is no percussionist in your band...
Thanks...
One example is Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Allright" which of course has that conga and/or bongo thing with the piano intro. After some trial and error trying to simulate it on toms, or hi-hat or whatever, and just decided to play a funky beat over the intro. (Sort of similar to the feel of Levon Helm's "Cripple Creek" beat.) Yeah I know that sounds weird. Trying to simulate congas on the toms and/or tom rims never sounded right to me when I tried it and nor did I want to haul around a set of congas or bongos, if even portable ones. It seems to have worked out fine playing a funky beat.
Another example is "Rapper's Delight" which has the congas/cowbell percussion intro. Same thing- after trying it different ways, I play a funky beat incorcorating the cowbell. It seems to work fine, and we recorded our demo with me doing this.
Now we are considering the "Cheerleader" song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGflUbPQfW8 and this song has lots of congas, the beat is often just bass drum and conga with no snare (so it sound to me). Again I'm wondering what would sound best. Quarter notes on the bass drum and some rack toms/rims? Again, never had much luck simulating congas with rack toms. I've wondered about getting a set of those portable congas that are pretty much just the heads, but it's something else to lug....
Wondering what are some approaches you guys take when doing these kinds kinds of tunes when there is no percussionist in your band...
Thanks...