Bongo Drums

percussion · Cuban music · hand drums · rhythm

Two drums, one pair. Bongos always come as a matching pair, with a bigger drum called the hembra and a smaller one called the macho. They are connected together by a wooden bridge so they stay as a team.

Played with your hands. You hit the bongo drums with your fingers, palms, and hands to make different sounds. Most of the time players hold the drums between their legs while sitting down and playing them.

African and Cuban roots. Bongos came from Cuba and have deep connections to African music traditions. They became super popular in Latin jazz and Cuban music, where they keep the beat bouncing and alive.

Many ways to play. You can play bongos just with your hands like a street musician, but classical musicians sometimes use drumsticks or set them on stands to play them differently.