The most important aspect of tuning drums is making sure the head stretches evenly. This can be achieved by keeping your eye on the head as you tune your bongo. When you begin tuning your bongo, choose one lug and give it a certain number of turns (a full rotation of the ratchet). When you first start tuning the bongo the head will be loose, so you will need to start with maybe 2 or 3 turns per lug. Make sure that you tighten each lug the same amount of turns, this will also help insure that the head stays on the drum evenly.

A ratchet or LP tuning wrench are excellent tools for tuning. This tool makes tuning and detuning your drums a breeze. LP offers the Percussion Survival Tool Kit (LP525), it comes with a compact ratchet, one 9/16" and one 1/2" deep socket and a bottle of LP Lug Lube.

Tune in a circular fashion, giving each lug the same amount of turns.

The bongo should always be tuned in a circular movement, start with any lug make sure you go to the next lug in the circle and not the lug across. Once you have tuned all the lugs, look at the drum from the side and check to see if the head is even. If you notice that the head is not even, you will need to go back and tighten the lugs that are causing the problem. As the tension increases you will need to use less turns of the ratchet, perhaps 1 or 2 turns this cycle. Once again, look at the bongo from the side to see if the head is mounted evenly. If it is not even, fine tune as previously mentioned. This method applies to both natural and synthetic heads.

One problem I have noticed is that some players are afraid to tighten the head as much as they should. Sometimes heads do split but this is less likely to happen with LP heads. But as we know split happens, so it is a good idea to always have a back up premounted head.

Generally the macho head is tuned very tight so you get a nice crisp open tone, this way martillo (most basic bongo rhythm) has a nice sharp "tic" to it. The hembra will be tuned much lower in pitch then the macho. I know some players who like to keep the macho and hembra roughly an octave apart. ft you're not sure how the bongo should sound, I suggest listening to some Salsa recordings. When you hear a bongo sound you like, try to match the sound with your own bongo.

De-tuning and Changing Your Heads

When detuning the bongo begin with the same lug you started with when you tuned your bongo.

Detuning your drums after playing is extremely important. After you've finished playing take your ratchet and reverse its direction. Begin the detuning process with the same lug you started with when you tuned your bongo. Give each lug 1 or 2 turns, keep going around the drum from lug to lug until the bongo pitch is lowered but the lugs are still snug. A secret to retuning is to remember the number of turns you used when you detuned. To simplify retuning remember to turn each lug the same amount of turns that you used when you tuned. You may need to fine tune a bit but this will definitely keep you in the ballpark.

Remember if you are using natural skins the weather will effect your tuning. If you are using synthetic heads the weather isn't much of a problem. Once again it is not necessary to detune synthetic heads, but I suggest that you do because it keeps stress of the drum shell.

When should the heads be replaced? When you start noticing that your sound isn't as crisp as it once was, this is a clear indication that you can replace your heads. I try to make a habit of changing my heads every few months, this insures that my bongo projects have nice, crisp sounds.

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