Bongos

From family drum circles to professional percussion rigs, bongos offer a fun way to play along in a group setting, or communicate complex emotions through a variety of techniques that produce a wide variety of tones.

Bongos comprise two small, open-bottom hand drums connected by a wooden peck. The larger drum is referred to as the hembra, or female, and the smaller drum is referred to as the macho, or male. Developed in the Eastern region of Cuba during the 19th century, bongos are traditionally played by striking the edge of the drumheads with the fingers and palms. Other popular playing techniques include the use of a drum stick and the rubbing of the index finger against the head.

According to traditional playing technique, right-handed players should hold bongos behind the knees, with the larger drum on the right. Bongos can also be played on a stand, which is a common solution for players with a larger, more complex percussion setup, or with formal concert orchestras.

Guitar Center offers bongos from the industry’s top makers, including Latin Percussion, Meinl, Toca, Gon Bops, Pearl and others.