Gongue
Sambapedia
Gongue - correct pronunciation
Playing
Function
The tongue is the pulse of the maracatu group. With its constantly repeating patterns, it provides a clear orientation for the alfaias, caixas and shaking instruments. For this reason, traditional maracatu groups always had only one gongu player. With small variations and solos, the gongueiro can ignite the energy and enthusiasm of the whole group.
Patterns
Tips and tricks
Techniques
Gongues are handmade instruments with an individual character. To play the two basic tones in a beautiful and balanced way, you need to explore the tongue a little until you have found the places where they sound clearest and strongest. Then you need to hit those spots as accurately as possible. Whether you place the strokes only on the surface of the bell body or also on the upper edge of the bell depends on your own taste and the characteristics of the bell.
Sticks
Traditionally, the Gongue is played with a thick wooden stick. As an alternative, sturdy plastic sticks are also available.
Strap
With a shoulder strap attached to the handle, large gongues made from thicker sheet iron can distribute the load much more comfortably.
Artcelsior
Average rating of 0 out of 5 stars
Easy to use, soft padding, all-rounder strap:an inexpensive alternative for instruments that can be played on 1 hook. Use this strap in Rio Style Samba to play caixa (played half-high or down / traditional grip), repinique (hand-stick), cuica or surdo.The open hook system is widely popular in Brazil because it allows you to quickly attach and detach or change your instrument.The strap is seamlessly adjustable and also suitable for kids as a hip strap or use two of them worn over cross over both shoulders like a harness strap, as you can adjust them very short.
available as a variant
Macapart
Average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars
Shoulder strap V-series: Comfy, stylish, functional! Breathable padding!A strap for all Samba and Maracatu instruments played in slightly inclined position! Continuously adjustable, same strap for right-handed sambistas and lefties!The V-series shoulder straps are sewn together like a V giving them a comfy fit. The breathable padding adds to the general quality of this authentic Rio style Samba strap. Macapart straps are made by a percussionist in Rio who has very high demands on functionality, quality and design. The open hook system is the most popular strap system in Brazil and is particularly handy if you change instruments a lot.Length aprox: 150cmWidth: 5cm
available as a variant
Barravento
Average rating of 0 out of 5 stars
Gongue stick - nylonYou think your gongue doesn´t sound loud enough or you find it annoying that your gongue stick wears out in a short time - here´s your solution: a thick, durable and hard stick made of white nylon. Ultra durable and produces loud sound!
Jorginho
Average rating of 4 out of 5 stars
Shoulder strap with 1 open hook - breathable paddingA strap for all instruments that are played in a slightly tilted position in front of the body, for example surdo or repinique in Samba de Enredo (Rio style), or caixa with traditional grip (open grip). The strap is continuously and easy to adjust, suitable for both left-handed and right-handed players.The strap is sewn in a V-shape along the open hook. As a result, the strap fits more comfortably and the instrument tilts to the desired playing position. Breathable padding material provides additional comfort. Jorginho builds functional straps in simple and proven quality. The open hook system is the most common in Brazil for quick attachment and detachment of the instrument.Strap width: 5 cmMax. Length of strap: approx. 160 cm
available as a variant
Durastick
Average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars
Stick for bells, cuadruple agogós and gonguês Finally a well-shaped, handy and easy-to-use beater: anatomical handle, well balanced, strong design which produces great sound! Each bell has its own 'sweet spot', usually a small area somewhere on top of the bell where you'll get the best sound. With the right beater, it is not only more fun to play but you will also get the best sound from your instrument. We have developed this stick especially for Samba bells, cuadruple agogós and gonguês. Well-shaped, slightly conical handle with grooves for better grip gives it a comfortable shape in your hand. Hickory wood is durable and rustical, and is mostly used for high-quality drum sticks.We are especially thrilled by the beater's weighting. We tested the stick at several occasions and compared it to other sticks in different shapes made of other materials and with other thicknesses. Due to its distribution of weight, the beater works especially well on cuadruple agogós where you can kind of just let the beater ''run'' along the bells to play your melodies.Tip: With a thicker and well-weighted beater like this one, you will need noticeably less playing movement. Too much momentum can damage your bells with such a powerful stick (hickory is a hardwood!). Relaxed playing technique and good weighting will provide the best sound. The beater is not suitable for thin-walled agogós, it is hard and heavy and can damage the welding of the seams. It is perfect for rustically welded, thick-walled bells, Maracatu gongués or latin percussion cow bells!
Durastick
Average rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars
Hardwood stick for Maracatu on natural skins - large headTraditional Maracatu stick, a powerful stick for strong accents as a baqueta.Good weight and well weighted balanceSturdy hardwoodLies well in the handIdeal sound on natural skinsalso well suited as a surdo stick for marcação voices on hide heads (surdo 1+2)not suitable for nylon and korino skins!
Durastick
Average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars
Hardwood stick for Maracatu on natural skinsExcellent maracatu stick that can be used as a baqueta or as a bacalhão, depending on your taste.Good weight and well weighted balanceStable hardwoodLies well in the handIdeal sound on natural skinswell suited as a surdo beater for terceira voices on hide headsnot suitable for nylon and korino skins!
Jorginho
Average rating of 4 out of 5 stars
Shoulder strap with 1 open hook - breathable paddingA strap for all instruments that are played in a slightly tilted position in front of the body, for example surdo or repinique in Samba de Enredo (Rio style), or caixa with traditional grip (open grip). The strap is continuously and easy to adjust, suitable for both left-handed and right-handed players.The strap is sewn in a V-shape along the open hook. As a result, the strap fits more comfortably and the instrument tilts to the desired playing position. Breathable padding material provides additional comfort. Jorginho builds functional straps in simple and proven quality. The open hook system is the most common in Brazil for quick attachment and detachment of the instrument.Strap width: 5 cmMax. Length of strap: approx. 160 cm
available as a variant
Barravento
Average rating of 0 out of 5 stars
Gongue stick - nylonYou think your gongue doesn´t sound loud enough or you find it annoying that your gongue stick wears out in a short time - here´s your solution: a thick, durable and hard stick made of white nylon. Ultra durable and produces loud sound!
Macapart
Average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars
Shoulder strap V-series: Comfy, stylish, functional! Breathable padding!A strap for all Samba and Maracatu instruments played in slightly inclined position! Continuously adjustable, same strap for right-handed sambistas and lefties!The V-series shoulder straps are sewn together like a V giving them a comfy fit. The breathable padding adds to the general quality of this authentic Rio style Samba strap. Macapart straps are made by a percussionist in Rio who has very high demands on functionality, quality and design. The open hook system is the most popular strap system in Brazil and is particularly handy if you change instruments a lot.Length aprox: 150cmWidth: 5cm
available as a variant
Artcelsior
Average rating of 0 out of 5 stars
Easy to use, soft padding, all-rounder strap:an inexpensive alternative for instruments that can be played on 1 hook. Use this strap in Rio Style Samba to play caixa (played half-high or down / traditional grip), repinique (hand-stick), cuica or surdo.The open hook system is widely popular in Brazil because it allows you to quickly attach and detach or change your instrument.The strap is seamlessly adjustable and also suitable for kids as a hip strap or use two of them worn over cross over both shoulders like a harness strap, as you can adjust them very short.
available as a variant
Durastick
Average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars
Stick for bells, cuadruple agogós and gonguês Finally a well-shaped, handy and easy-to-use beater: anatomical handle, well balanced, strong design which produces great sound! Each bell has its own 'sweet spot', usually a small area somewhere on top of the bell where you'll get the best sound. With the right beater, it is not only more fun to play but you will also get the best sound from your instrument. We have developed this stick especially for Samba bells, cuadruple agogós and gonguês. Well-shaped, slightly conical handle with grooves for better grip gives it a comfortable shape in your hand. Hickory wood is durable and rustical, and is mostly used for high-quality drum sticks.We are especially thrilled by the beater's weighting. We tested the stick at several occasions and compared it to other sticks in different shapes made of other materials and with other thicknesses. Due to its distribution of weight, the beater works especially well on cuadruple agogós where you can kind of just let the beater ''run'' along the bells to play your melodies.Tip: With a thicker and well-weighted beater like this one, you will need noticeably less playing movement. Too much momentum can damage your bells with such a powerful stick (hickory is a hardwood!). Relaxed playing technique and good weighting will provide the best sound. The beater is not suitable for thin-walled agogós, it is hard and heavy and can damage the welding of the seams. It is perfect for rustically welded, thick-walled bells, Maracatu gongués or latin percussion cow bells!
Durastick
Average rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars
Hardwood stick for Maracatu on natural skins - large headTraditional Maracatu stick, a powerful stick for strong accents as a baqueta.Good weight and well weighted balanceSturdy hardwoodLies well in the handIdeal sound on natural skinsalso well suited as a surdo stick for marcação voices on hide heads (surdo 1+2)not suitable for nylon and korino skins!
Durastick
Average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars
Hardwood stick for Maracatu on natural skinsExcellent maracatu stick that can be used as a baqueta or as a bacalhão, depending on your taste.Good weight and well weighted balanceStable hardwoodLies well in the handIdeal sound on natural skinswell suited as a surdo beater for terceira voices on hide headsnot suitable for nylon and korino skins!