Conga Drum

drums · Cuban music · Latin music · percussion

Tall and narrow. The conga is a single-headed drum shaped like a tall barrel, making it stand out from other drums because of its unique size and look.

Born in Cuba. Congas come from Cuba and were originally played in Afro-Cuban music styles like conga and rumba, where each drummer would play just one drum.

Three types exist. Congas come in three different sizes with different sounds: the quinto (highest pitch), tres dos (middle), and tumba (lowest and deepest).

Spread around the world. During the mid-1900s, drummers started playing two or three congas together and the instrument became popular in jazz, salsa, merengue, and Latin rock everywhere.