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Bongos

Find the perfect bongos right here at West Music

Explore the rhythmic sounds from around the world with West Music’s eclectic array of bongo drums. They’re essential instruments for any percussion kit or music classroom. Music teachers and therapists often use bongos to nurture creativity, dexterity, and social interactions, while professional musicians call on these drums to infuse their beats with distinctive Afro-Cuban sounds. Versatile, durable, and highly portable, these drums can be played with hands, mallets, or adaptive mallets and cuffs, making them ideal for music therapy patients, group drumming sessions, and children.

Bongo resources:

Studio 49 Instrument Repair Hospital: Drums

Percussion Ensemble Lesson: Little Miss Muffet

Making Cultural Music Connections with Children

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Your network or browser security settings may be blocking the products from loading (to confirm, try opening this page on your phone's cellular network).

Please try the following options to proceed with your order:

1. To place your order over the phone, call us Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm CST at 1-800-397-9378.

2. Shop via a different browser or network connection (i.e. on your phone or with a different Wi-Fi network).

3. Contact your IT team to ask them to whitelist js.klevu.com.

4. You can also click here to access our digital catalog. Use the search at the top of the Catalog screen to find a product, click a link to navigate the product detail page (product pages will load normally), and add it to your cart. You can also navigate directly to product pages by adding a 6-digit item number (i.e. "400278") to the end of our URL (i.e. Westmusic.com/400278).

Bongos in Percussion

With their distinctive sound and versatile nature, Bongos occupy a central place in the percussion family. From the vibrant rhythms of cosmic percussion to the more intimate settings where a child's drum exploration begins, bongos offer rhythmic possibilities. Esteemed brands like Meinl and Remo have elevated the bongo to new heights, offering instruments that cater to professional percussionists and novices alike. Whether it's the compact Meinl bongos, the innovative designs of Remo bongo, or the resonant tones of a large bongo, these drums are designed to inspire. Let's dive into the captivating world of bongos, exploring the variety and musicality these instruments bring to every performance.

Structure of Bongos

Bongos consist of two small drums attached; one is slightly larger than the other, traditionally called the "hembra" (female) and the "macho" (male). Played with the hands, they produce a wide range of tones that can complement melodies or drive the rhythm forward. The bongo's size and accessibility make it an ideal instrument for musicians at all levels, serving as a gateway to percussion mastery.

Bongos as a Child's Drum

Bongos also serves as an excellent child's drum, providing a fun and engaging way for young learners to explore rhythm and music. The tactile nature of the instrument, combined with its playful sound, encourages children to experiment with beats and tempos, fostering an early love for music. Manufacturers often design child-friendly bongos with durability and safety in mind, ensuring a positive first experience with musical instruments.

The Role of Large Bongos

The large bongo, on the other hand, introduces a more profound, resonant tone to the family. Its increased size allows for a broader range of sound, adding depth to the bongo's characteristic high-pitched beats. Percussionists often use prominent bongos in ensemble settings to anchor the rhythm section or as solo instruments for dynamic performances requiring commanding presence.

Versatility of the Single Bongo

While bongos traditionally come in pairs, the single bongo offers unique versatility. This drum can be used as a standalone instrument or integrated into a more extensive percussion setup, providing a compact option for adding rhythmic accents. The single bongo is perfect for percussionists who value space efficiency without compromising sound quality.

Meinl Bongos

One great brand to consider, Meinl is renowned for its high-quality percussion instruments, and its bongos are no exception. Meinl bongos are precision-crafted from select woods and materials, offering superior sound and durability. With features like hand-selected buffalo skin heads and tunable hardware, Meinl bongos cater to the discerning percussionist seeking a professional-grade instrument that delivers both in the studio and on stage.

Remo Bongos

Another great bongo brand, Remo, has revolutionized drum manufacturing with its synthetic drumheads, and the Remo bongo incorporates this innovation. Designed to mimic the traditional skin heads while offering more excellent tuning stability and resistance to weather changes, Remo bongos provide consistent and reliable performance. Ideal for percussionists who frequently play in varying conditions, the Remo bongo bridges the gap between traditional sound and modern convenience.

The Diversity and Appeal of Bongos

The world of bongos is as diverse as it is dynamic, offering something for everyone, from the budding musician to the seasoned professional. Through the cosmic percussion of bongo rhythms, the exploratory joy of a child's drum, the craftsmanship of Meinl bongos, the innovation of Remo, the depth of giant bongos, and the versatility of a single bongo, these instruments continue to captivate and inspire. As a cornerstone of percussive expression, bongos remain an enduring symbol of the rhythmic heartbeat that connects all music lovers.

Shop bongos drums and bongo drum stands today!

Our collection features a full range of woods, stains, designs, and sizes from popular brands like Pearl, Remo, Meinl, Toca, NINO Percussion, and more for beginners as well as intermediate and professional players. Helpful accessories like straps, stands and tuning keys make creating hypnotic rhythms nearly effortless. For even more choices, check out our bongos for children, in addition to our larger collection of bongos at Percussion Source.