This may sound like a silly question, but I have been trying to find some common resource for learning to read music when playing conga/djembe/etc. So far the things I have found have been all over the map.

There is box notation where where some sort of code is used to represent the drum tone (slap/bass/open tone/etc). For example, a really nice book Conga Joy uses box notation with S-Slap O-Open B-Base F-Flam, H-heel, T-Toe. Then another conga book use geometric figures like a triangle for slap, star for base, circle for open tone, etc.

I have seen some staff notation where they will put different symbols on the drum notes (like a circle, X, slash) to represent the tone and the position on the line to represent the drum.

It seems like nearly every publication I pick up does it it differently. So, finally to my question. Is there any commonality in hand drum sheet music, what is mostly used, and what do you recommend for a hand slammer to learn?

Thanks!

Welcome to Drum Chat midgard! Nice to see a fellow Oregonian on here.

Most of what I have seen is done in box notation. What your describing from Conga Joy (great book) is the most common that I have come across. I have seen the other types and the best piece of advice I could give is to learn all of them. Hand percussion originates from many different ancient cultures and they all have their own way of notation. There really has not been a lot of effort put into making one type of universal notation. Box notation is as close as it gets. It's not hard to learn all of them. I have seen about 5 or 6 different types. Make yourself a master sheet that cross references all types and you should be good to go.

Can't believe I overlooked this one, dudes...

I've seen notation both ways (symbols and conventional notes) with letters under them indicating L for left hand, R for right hand, etc., but 1DB is spot-on with his suggestion.

Another factor too of course is that while symbols are useful for practicing, you're gonna have a tough time notating some types of hand drumming (a high-speed martillo involving thumb "pops", for example, or an ad lib fill)...

Welcome to Drum Chat midgard! Nice to see a fellow Oregonian on here.

Most of what I have seen is done in box notation. What your describing from Conga Joy (great book) is the most common that I have come across. I have seen the other types and the best piece of advice I could give is to learn all of them. Hand percussion originates from many different ancient cultures and they all have their own way of notation. There really has not been a lot of effort put into making one type of universal notation. Box notation is as close as it gets. It's not hard to learn all of them. I have seen about 5 or 6 different types. Make yourself a master sheet that cross references all types and you should be good to go.
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