The bongo is a small, two drum, open bottomed, percussion instrument, averaging about 47 cm in length. It is played by striking the heads with different parts of bare hands and fingers.
Bongos feature primarily in Afro-Cuban and Latin American styles of music.
When you borrow a set of bongos from RPL, you will receive them in a case to protect them.
An instrument in good condition makes better music. Please see our Care and Respect video below, to learn how to take care of the bongos while you have them.
Never played before? No problem! You can also access free step-by-step video lessons for a variety of instruments through our digital services:
LinkedIn Learning
Gale Courses
Kanopy
Instrument photos courtesy of Vancouver Public Library
Videos
Tutorials
• Al Dworsky (lessons from Al Dworsky on Youtube)
• Bongomania (lessons)
• DancePapi - Learn Hand Drums (lessons on a variety of hand drums)
• Bongo Drumming with Trevor Salloum (lessons from Trevor Salloum on Youtube)
Helpful Links
• Art Drum - Bongos (technique, rhythms, purchasing and much more)
Helpful Apps
• Bongos (iTunes) (virtual bongo)
• Bongos! Bongos! (iTunes) (lessons and a virtual bongo)
• Hand Drums (iTunes) (virtual hand drums)