What pair of small hand drums is common in salsa music?

The pair of small hand drums common in salsa music is the bongos.

Bongos are Afro-Cuban percussion instruments consisting of two open-bottomed drums of different sizes, joined by a wooden bridge. The larger drum is the hembra (“female”), while the smaller is the macho (“male”). Players usually strike them with their hands.

The instrument developed in eastern Cuba in the late 19th century, especially in changüí and son cubano. As Cuban-derived music spread, bongos became a standard part of salsa ensembles alongside congas, timbales, cowbells, claves and güiro. The bongo player, or bongosero, often performs the repeating martillo (“hammer”) pattern and adds improvised flourishes.

A common mix-up is confusing bongos with congas. Bongos are the smaller, higher-pitched paired drums; congas are taller, single-headed drums played in sets. Timbales are also different: they are shallow metal drums commonly played with sticks.