Play Congas Now: The Basics & Beyond [Paperback]

Richie Gajate-Garcia (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2000

Play Congas Now approaches conga playing in a very user-friendly way and is a must for all students who wish to learn the basic styles, patterns and techniques from world-renowned artist/teacher Richie Gajate-Garcia. The package contains two CDs with Richie performing all exercises and has play-along tracks to practice with. Styles include Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, pop/rock, funk, and R&B, along with a section on school jazz band use. A complete study of the conga!

Product Details

• Paperback: 86 pages
• Publisher: Alfred Publishing Company (December 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0769296572
• ISBN-13: 978-0769296579
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #951,808 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding introduction to conga playing, July 28, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Play Congas Now: The Basics & Beyond (Paperback)

It's hard to imagine how this book could be improved upon. With this book and 2 lessons with a great conga player in New York City, I played my first gig (that is, a paying music job) on congas. And trust me, I am no musical prodigy! ! More like a musical oaf! ! If I can do this anyone can.

The CD enclosed is especially valuable because you can hear the difference between you and the master, and practice until you sound as good as he does. Unlike the other book I bought to prepare for aforementioned gig, this one uses real music notation. (Don't worry if you don't read music, he explains it extremely well.) This means you're ready immediately to work with other musicians.

Another great thing about this book is that it covers clave patterns in 2-3 and 3-2, and a bunch of rock beats, so you can play rock and pop right away, as well as Latin rhythms. He's written out conga parts for several well known rock songs -- even one by Sting in 5/4 time! -- and illustrates how you can contribute to the jam even if there is already a drum kit (trap) drummer on the song.

I knew nothing about playing congas when I bought this book, and 2 months later I can really get around on this instrument. I can't imagine a better book for the beginner.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book/CD I Have Seen, April 7, 2001

By 

Paul Bentley (Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Play Congas Now: The Basics & Beyond (Paperback)

This is a great book, Ritchie Garcia explains things clearly and includes great exercises and loads of authentic rhythms. There are also some contempory rhythms of his own for playing to jazz/rock/pop/funk. Unfortunately I didn't get my copy from amazon and I paid more!! Lesson learned!!!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's ok. Probably should take a lesson or two first, though, March 10, 2003

By 

M. "scottythebody" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Play Congas Now: The Basics & Beyond (Paperback)

This book is fairly inspirational, and includes a lot of good information. But it's not for the ultra-beginner. You should at least watch a video or take one lesson before you dive in here. For example, if you don't know what all of the individual slapping/tapping/muffling techniques SHOULD sound like, you won't be able to tell if you're doing anything correctly or not.