There are many major instruments used in Latin American music. These include drums as well as instruments created out of what many people consider to be junk.

The bongos are the highest pitched drums in Latin American music. They consist of two small wooden shelled single headed drums. The heads are about seven and eight inches in diameter and made of calf, mule, or goatskins. Plastic and synthetic heads are also available but not necessarily recommended. Heads made of skin should be loosened to prolong the life of the head. The basic bongo pattern is called a martillo and consists of eight distinct strokes.

Congas today are made of both wood and fiberglass shells. However, they are directly of African descent and were originally made of hollowed out tree trunks and primitive barrel drums. Conga heads are usually made of calf or mule hide, or are synthetic. Like with bongos, skin-heads should be loosened so the drum lasts longer. Congas can be played either singly or in combina

The cowbell, also known as the cencerro, is held in the hand by supporting the sides of the bell with the thumb and pinky. The top of the bell is cupped in the back of the hand. It is played with the end of a stick. The tone can be dampened by applying pressure with the fingers holding the sides of the bell.

By the 1950s there were ensembles featuring melody, harmony, and even bass pans built out of old 55 gallon barrels. Today, many pans make up a standard steel band. These include the tenor (soprano), double tenor (soprano /alto), double second, double and triple guitars (alto/ tenor), quadraphonic (alto/ tenor), cello (tenor), tenor bass (tenor/ bass), and bass (bass). Though steel bands are very popular, the construction of the instruments is still not standardized.

The steel drums, better known as the pans, originated in Trinidad and Tobago. They derived from the previous tamboo bamboo bands, which employed large bamboo shafts dropped to the ground to produce musical sounds. The first melodic pans were created in the early 1940s. The drum was held in one hand and played with a small stick. It had about eight tuned notes.

Cla

Some topics in this essay:
Latin American, Trinidad Tobago, latin american, american music, latin american music, american music include, music include, hand played stick, bass bass, mallets held, inches diameter, originally hollowed, hollow gourd, tenor soprano, calf mule,