Slaps are tricky business, so no reason to be worried after only eight months. If you have not already found it, try Johnny Conga on Youtube.
Thanks! Will check him out.
He has some very good instructional videos on conga playing. Then there is the question of drums and skins. It is much easier to get good slaps on a requinto than on a tumba. In my experience thick, good cowskins are best.
I currently have the handpicked water buffalo. I have ordered mule skin and that is supposed to rock as far as slaps are concerned. I am really hoping that it helps for me to see and hear the different effects of hand technique, as my water buffalos all sound like 'thuds'.
The most important point is how much you cup your hands. Some do it with almost flat hands, and some people, like me, do it with more curved hands.
Does your curve collapse after impact?
I see you are very aware of the problems involved. The only way is to experiment, and find out what works for your hands on your drums. In some ways it might be better without a teacher, who would teach you how he does it, and that would not be the best way for you. The african teacher I had a long time ago, did wonderful slaps with very flat hands, which I could not do, so I had to find out on my own. Next teacher could not care less about the technical side, but he was very satisfied when he had managed to make me swing the tumbao. So just keep trying. I needed two very good teachers and about five years to get my congaplaying in shape.
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