How to tune a conga drum: You will find numerous ways and technique that many people have. Ideas that many have created that in reality do not work but gives the person a sense of tune. I have seen many that tap head with wrench at each lug to see if its tuned. The mistake by doing this is that every skin has different thickness all around. Skins when they are processed even thought they look even to the human eye there may be fibers or to say muscle that we do not see within the skin making it tougher on one side than the other. So by taping with wrench yes it will sound different on every Lug, but it will not tune proper.
There are others that will tell You that the tune up there drums by a piano to the keys of B & G or C . Another error Conga drums are what is called an UN TUNED instrument. UN TUNED ! You may ask, simple e means that a Conga drums are a part in the percussion section called Membranophone . which used a membrane to produce its sound. Therefore it can not be tune with piano because nature will bring it up or down in a musical scale without notice.
Conga drums come in numerous sizes the smaller the size of the Barrel and head The higher the pitch of the drum will be. If the drum is very large then The lower the pitch will be. And as by sizes they all have a name example the smallest is referred to as a RE quin to this a 8-9'' drum this will produce a very high pitch tone. Then you have the Quinto which then increases in size to 10-11 this will then in turn come down in pitch almost an octave in pitch yet very close to the Re quinto in sound. then You have what is called The conga drum or Tres Dos. these then are sizes 113/4 Meaning out of 3 second. It's a larger drum than Re quinto and quinto Therefore the pitch will be a bit lower. Then You have what is called The Tumba, which are sizes 12-13'' again being a lager drum will produce a deeper pitch. Then You have what is call the supper which is 14-141/2 even deeper pitch.
Know how to tune these drums, You can go in a star pattern meaning crisscross Or you can go around your drum. The most important thing is bringing the Crown or Rim how ever you want to call it down even. Know as you bring Crown down by tightening lug or screws ,you will note that the pitch will go higher, As you loosen it will go lower. When You over tune a conga drum the sound of the drum will become what is called Flat. Having no resonance to it. You must have a warm tone regardless of sizes of the drum for the perfect sound. If drum is under tuned you will get a muffle sound.Tighten till you get a warm mellow tone.
Conga drum what determines there sound is the size of the barrel. Also your skin is a very important factor. I recommend if you are using wooden drums to use Cow hide it the best , if You use fiber glass use water buffalo you also have mule hides that can be used ether or. The only problem it a bit harder on hands. If using Plastic Make sure you buy the the right size and right thickness companies like Remo makes many different gauges to accommodate Cow hide, water buffalo and mule hides. So choose wisely your skins.
One other key advice You will see ton's of videos on you tube tell all different ways of tuning ignore them most are ton's of BS every drum will tune differently due to skin and its size also the quality of the drum.
