Afuche/Cabasa Country of Origin: Latin America and parts of Africa
Cabasas made of gourd were originally from Africa, and have many similarities to the West African shekere, another shaken percussion instrument. The original cabasa is called agbe, and the Cabaça is another variation used in Latin American dance. The metal version seen here was developed in the 1960s by Martin Cohen for his music company,
Latin Percussion.
head. drum leather
wood, metal, and even bone, and have a a have and bone, even and metal, wood,
because it is portable. They can be made of of made be can They portable. is it because
is used by many traveling musicians musicians traveling many by used is
instrument in tantric practices. The damru damru The practices. tantric in instrument
used in Tibetan Buddhism as an an as Buddhism Tibetan in used
associated with the deity Shiva. It is also also is It Shiva. deity the with associated
instrument used in Hinduism, and is is and Hinduism, in used instrument
The damru (or damaru) is a traditional traditional a is damaru) (or damru The
Tibet and India Origin: of Country
Damru How to Play:
1. Hold the handle (or middle of the drum) with one or both hands. 2. Twist your wrist to turn the damru quickly. This will make the two knotted ends hit the drum head, making
fast, loud drum hits.
sound. scraping
metal to make a a make to metal
them across the the across them
the beads and push push and beads the
Move your hand on on hand your Move 2.
beads. the on hand
place your other other your place
with one hand, and and hand, one with
Hold the handle handle the Hold 1.
Play: to How Kuaiban Country of Origin: China
Kuaiban (pronounced “kwai bahr”) is a type of shuochang, an oral storytelling performance most popular in northern China. The name of this storytelling comes from the name of these bamboo clappers, called kuaiban or kuai ban, which means “fast boards” or “bamboo talk.” These clappers are rattled during the storytelling to provide a beat. Bones have traditionally been used in Chinese musical instruments, but these modern kuaiban were developed by Li Runjie
in the 1940s.
singer. a by
made from wood or fiberglass. It is usually played played usually is It fiberglass. or wood from made
out gourd, but many modern güiros are are güiros modern many but gourd, out - hollowed
through the slave trade. The güiro is made from a a from made is güiro The trade. slave the through
brought to Latin America and the Caribbean Caribbean the and America Latin to brought
similar instrument was thought to have been been have to thought was instrument similar
instrument was created by the Aztecs, and another another and Aztecs, the by created was instrument
Cuban, and other Latin American music. A similar similar A music. American Latin other and Cuban,
instrument that is typically used in Puerto Rican, Rican, Puerto in used typically is that instrument
doh”) is a percussion percussion a is doh”) - “gwee (pronounced güiro The
America Latin Origin: of Country
Güiro How to Play:
1. Take the scraper from the frog’s mouth and scrape it across the notches on its back (from back to front). This will make a frog-like sound. 2. You can also simply tap the frog with the scraper to make a single hit, which will have
a hollow sound to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhkQMM7Mtyw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhkQMM7Mtyw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stPYB6punUo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stPYB6punUo and and
For some great examples of kuaiban playing, check out: out: check playing, kuaiban of examples great some For
sounds. different for together clappers hands’ both hit also can You 5.
sound. louder harder, a for down then and up clapper front the Flip
Right: Move back clapper towards the front one to hit them together. together. them hit to one front the towards clapper back Move Right: 4.
other. each hit clappers all make to set the Shake
Left: Push top three fingers to make the top clapper hit the stack. stack. the hit clapper top the make to fingers three top Push Left: 3.
hit! get don’t
the other in your hand. Keep your hand close to the top so your fingers fingers your so top the to close hand your Keep hand. your in other the
Right hand, large clappers: Keep the bow side clapper facing out, hold hold out, facing clapper side bow the Keep clappers: large hand, Right 2.
top. on fingers three remaining and stack, the under
Left hand, small clappers: Place index finger the top clapper, thumb thumb clapper, top the finger index Place clappers: small hand, Left 1.
Play: to How Lyre Country of Origin: Sumer (modern-day Southern Iraq)
The lyre is a string instrument typically used in Greek classical antiquity. It was originally played using a plectrum (pick), and the player could use their fingers to keep strings silent when not being played. European and Middle Eastern lyres were later played with a bow. Lyres have been common in Europe, Asia, and
Africa.
Island. Edward Prince and Newfoundland,
also used in Scotland, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Scotia, Nova Breton, Cape Scotland, in used also
in baking. It became popular in the 1960s, and is is and 1960s, the in popular became It baking. in
may have been used to carry peat, or even for use use for even or peat, carry to used been have may
suggested that the name means “skin tray,” and and tray,” “skin means name the that suggested
“bodhrán” was in the 17th century, and it has been been has it and century, 17th the in was “bodhrán”
of North America. The first appearance of the word word the of appearance first The America. North of
Middle East, and those used by Indigenous peoples peoples Indigenous by used those and East, Middle
the frame drums used in northern Africa, the the Africa, northern in used drums frame the
(sometimes two) on the opposite side. It is similar to to similar is It side. opposite the on two) (sometimes
drum with a goatskin head and a crossbar crossbar a and head goatskin a with drum
rawn) is a frame frame a is rawn) - “bow (pronounced bodhrán The
Bodhrán
Ireland Origin: of Country For a complete tutorial, check out How to Play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y540acW6NQM
1. Hold the drum straight up on your left knee, with the head of the drum facing to the right. This is reversed if you are left-handed. 2. Place your hand under the cross bar and place your finger- tips on the skin of the drum. Keep your fingers straight. This will dampen the sound of the drum a bit. 3. Hold the beater like a pencil in your right hand. You may want to hold it a bit higher than the ridge around the mid- dle. 4. Bring the end of the beater that would be the “pencil lead” towards your chin. From here, bring the beater down and strike the middle of the drum. You should move the beater all the way out toward your right knee. 5. From that position, bring the beater back up and hit the drum again, and it should end up back by your chin. 6. This is a basic stroke to repeat. As you get closer to the
edge of the drum, the pitch changes.
lyre have a nice sound nice a have lyre .
combinations, as almost any notes on the the on notes any almost as combinations,
and notes may vary. Try different different Try vary. may notes and
Depending on how it is tuned, the chords chords the tuned, is it how on Depending 4.
leg. your
steady it. In this case, the lyre will rest on on rest will lyre the case, this In it. steady
keeping your other three on the lyre to to lyre the on three other your keeping
behind with the thumb and index finger, finger, index and thumb the with behind
right hand, or your left can pluck from from pluck can left your or hand, right
The strings can be plucked with just the the just with plucked be can strings The 3.
front. the to around reach should
will come around the back and your fingers fingers your and back the around come will
Hold the lyre across your left arm. Your hand hand Your arm. left your across lyre the Hold 2.
correct. sound notes
Make sure your lyre is tuned so that your your that so tuned is lyre your sure Make 1.
Play: to How Cajón Country of Origin: Peru
The cajón (pronounced “kah-hone”) is a box-shaped percussion instrument used in Afro-Peruvian music, flamenco, jazz, and many other genres. The cajón is usually made of plywood, with a sound hole cut on the back, and is played by sitting on top of it, and being slapped by the hands/fingers, or brushes/mallets/sticks. Its use is common in the Phillippines, Spain, and
some of the Americas.
noise. slapping the create to back pulled be
which has one handle and two boards, one of which can can which of one boards, two and handle one has which
“whip” sound. The second, pictured here, is a slapstick, slapstick, a is here, pictured second, The sound. “whip”
handles that are brought together to make a large slap or or slap large a make to together brought are that handles
The first, called a whip, has two boards with separate separate with boards two has whip, a called first, The
Western symphony orchestra can be one of two types. types. two of one be can orchestra symphony Western
Chinese guban or the Korean bak. The clapper used in in used clapper The bak. Korean the or guban Chinese
in many forms and by different names, including the the including names, different by and forms many in
clapped together to produce a sound. Clappers are found found are Clappers sound. a produce to together clapped
instrument that has two long, solid pieces that are are that pieces solid long, two has that instrument
The slapstick is a type of clapper, which is a percussion percussion a is which clapper, of type a is slapstick The
century 14th the in designed First
Slapstick How to Play:
1. Hold the handle of the slap- stick with one hand. 2. Bring the slapstick up and then make a whip-like mo- tion, thrusting it downward quickly. The top board will hit the bottom. Be careful: the slapstick is extremely
loud!
fingers instead of your whole hand. hand. whole your of instead fingers
v=UM8eIlqf5GA
You can change it up by using your your using by up it change can You https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Tap the cajón in any sort of rhythm. rhythm. of sort any in cajón the Tap 4. and and v=7VemEAXrfDo
www.youtube.com/watch?
corners. the to closer hit tone,
https:// out:: check played,
lean forward too much! For a higher higher a For much! too forward lean
For some examples of the cajón being being cajón the of examples some For
but don’t don’t but — cajón the of areas middle
For a deeper sound (bass), hit the the hit (bass), sound deeper a For 3.
possible. as relaxed as body your Keep
hands to hit the cajón in front of you. you. of front in cajón the hit to hands
There should be enough room for your your for room enough be should There 2.
back. the facing be should hole
can, feet flat on the floor. The sound sound The floor. the on flat feet can,
Sit on the cajón as far back as you you as back far as cajón the on Sit 1.
Play: to How Flexatone
Country of Origin: United States
The flexatone is a type of idiophone made up of a sheet of flexible metal attached to a wire frame, with a beater on each side. It is best known for its cartoonish sound, similar to that of the musical saw. It was patented in 1924 by the Playatone com- pany of New York, and was first used in 1920s jazz as an effect. It is now
sometimes used for orchestral music.
rain. falling
the thorns or needles inside, making a sound similar to to similar sound a making inside, needles or thorns the
at both ends. When the stick is tilted, the seeds or pebbles hit hit pebbles or seeds the tilted, is stick the When ends. both at
Seeds or pebbles are then put inside, and the tube is closed closed is tube the and inside, put then are pebbles or Seeds
The needles are taken off, and then pressed into the cactus. cactus. the into pressed then and off, taken are needles The
from. The rainstick is often made from a dried, hollow cactus. cactus. hollow dried, a from made often is rainstick The from.
climates are thought to be where these instruments come come instruments these where be to thought are climates
order to bring rain, which is likely why areas with dry dry with areas why likely is which rain, bring to order
that the rainstick was used by several different cultures in in cultures different several by used was rainstick the that
Although their origins are somewhat unknown, it is believed believed is it unknown, somewhat are origins their Although
Africa West and America, South of regions
Country of Origin: undetermined, but possibly Mexico, Mexico, possibly but undetermined, Origin: of Country
Rainstick How to Play:
1. Hold the handle of the flexatone. When you shake it quickly, the beaters hit the metal sheet. 2. To change the tone, place your thumb on the metal sheet, and push it up and down to change the sound as you shake the flexatone.
For an example of the flexatone being played, check out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACyXnZEJ-U8
sound. will
the louder and harder the “rain” “rain” the harder and louder the
The faster you tilt the rainstick, rainstick, the tilt you faster The 3.
rainfall. of sound the create
direction until it is upright to to upright is it until direction
Slowly tilt the rainstick in one one in rainstick the tilt Slowly 2.
hands. both with
with one hand, or on both ends ends both on or hand, one with
Hold the rainstick in the middle middle the in rainstick the Hold 1.
Play: to How Singing Bowl Country of Origin: China, India, Nepal
The modern singing bowl comes from the standing bell, which is a bell that sits so the rim is on top, instead of the usual bell. The bells are often played by simply striking them, but singing bowls can make sound by rotating a mallet around the top. Singing bowls are typically used for meditation, relaxation, and have become popular in yoga and music therapy. Often called Tibetan singing bowls, they have actually never been found to have been used in Tibet. They have become more of a modern phenomenon, starting
in the early 1970s.
leather. or wood of made be also can maracas
stick is placed in the middle for a handle. Modern Modern handle. a for middle the in placed is stick
filled with seeds or pebbles, and then a wooden wooden a then and pebbles, or seeds with filled
Maracas are made from a tree fruit, which is then then is which fruit, tree a from made are Maracas
new rhythms in Latin America and the Caribbean. Caribbean. the and America Latin in rhythms new
20th centuries, they began to be incorporated into into incorporated be to began they centuries, 20th
peoples in Latin America, and by the 19th and and 19th the by and America, Latin in peoples
religious chants and ceremonies by indigenous indigenous by ceremonies and chants religious
Caribbean and Latin music. They were used in in used were They music. Latin and Caribbean
The maraca is a type of rattle often used in in used often rattle of type a is maraca The
Brazil or Venezuela, Rico, Puerto
Country of Origin: Undetermined, possibly possibly Undetermined, Origin: of Country Maracas How to Play:
1. Put the bowl flat in your palm. Keep your fingers spread out and don’t curl them around the bowl, this will dampen the sound. 2. Hold the bowl at a bit of an angle, and place the mallet between your thumb and fingers, padded part facing down. 3. Begin to swirl the mallet around the bowl. Keep the pressure against the bowl, and an even pace. 4. The faster the mallet moves, the louder the bowl gets. Move the mallet away and towards the edge of the bowl to change the
volume as well.
going. sound the keep can you that so maracas
stopped, so keep control when you shake the the shake you when control keep so stopped,
Sound actually occurs when the maraca is is maraca the when occurs actually Sound 3.
together both or time, a at one them shake
degree angle. You can can You angle. degree - 90 a at starting elbows
Keep your maracas in front of you with your your with you of front in maracas your Keep 2.
maraca. the of head
handle (facing you). Keep your grip close to the the to close grip your Keep you). (facing handle
ground, and your thumb straight across the the across straight thumb your and ground,
in each hand, with your four fingers facing the the facing fingers four your with hand, each in
With the handle facing you, pick up a maraca maraca a up pick you, facing handle the With 1.
Play: to How Kalimba Country of Origin: across Africa, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and North Africa
The kalimba is a western version of the African mbira (pronounced “uhm-beer-a”). The kalimba is made of a wooden board and metal tines, which are plucked by the thumbs when the instrument is held. Tines were originally made of bamboo, and appeared on the west coast of Africa 3000 years ago. Metal tines have been found from 1300 years ago. The instruments became popular with the Shona people of Zimbabwe, who gave the mbira its name. The kalimba came into western culture in the 1950s, after an ethnomusicologist named Hugh Tracy developed the version while living in
Africa. “Kalimba” is Bantu for “little music.”
waterfall. a even
together mimics that of a flock of birds, or or birds, of flock a of that mimics together
may be made. The sound of the pods hitting hitting pods the of sound The made. be may
breakable, so a wooden or fiberglass version version fiberglass or wooden a so breakable,
during dancing. The pods can be somewhat somewhat be can pods The dancing. during
used on wrists and ankles to make sound sound make to ankles and wrists on used
pods, and could be shaken by hand, or even even or hand, by shaken be could and pods,
This kind was made from hollowed seed seed hollowed from made was kind This
types of musical rattles used across Africa. Africa. across used rattles musical of types
version of African pod rattles, one of many many of one rattles, pod African of version
The wood birds instrument is a modern modern a is instrument birds wood The
Congo the including Africa, of parts Origin: of Country
Birds Wood How to Play:
1. Hold the kalimba in both hands. Your thumbs should be on top and the rest of your fin- gers behind. 2. The notes go up by alternating left to right as the tines move outward. The middle note is C, then the left is D, the next right is E, and so on. You can play through the scale by alternating. 3. The best way to play is using your thumbnail to play the metal tines. You don’t have to play very hard. 4. By moving your thumb over the sound hole, you can change the quality of a pitch when a tine is played. For some great examples of kalimba playing, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd7KC3PaEaA and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE1dqmcajEk
goes! anything hands, your
and shaking, rustling them in in them rustling shaking, and
up, hanging them with your hand hand your with them hanging up,
Try shaking them, bunching them them bunching them, shaking Try
by running your hands over them. them. over hands your running by
You can hang them and play them them play and them hang can You 2.
ways. different many
The wood birds can be played in in played be can birds wood The 1.
Play: to How Didgeridoo Country of Origin: Australia
The didgeridoo is an instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia, and may have been around for 1500 years. The didgeridoo was traditionally played for ceremonial dancing and singing, but would also be used to play for recreation. Even today, it is still used in ceremonies by Aboriginal peoples of northern Australia. Authentic didgeridoos are usually made from eucalyptus wood, and are taken from a part of the tree that has been hollowed by termites. The name “didgeridoo” is considered to be a Western invention, as the regional names for many Indigenous peoples in Australia are
completely different from “didgeridoo.”
instead. cylinder a like shaped but
a Brazilian instrument of the same concept, concept, same the of instrument Brazilian a
seeds or beads. They are similar to the ganzá, ganzá, the to similar are They beads. or seeds
variety of materials, and may be filled with with filled be may and materials, of variety
similar to maracas. They can be made from a a from made be can They maracas. to similar
percussion instruments, and so are very very are so and instruments, percussion
Egg shakers are used like most other rattle rattle other most like used are shakers Egg
America Latin Origin: of Country
Shaker Egg How to Play:
1. Be sure to sit up straight, and hold the didgeridoo so that you are not tensed up. 2. Place your lips inside the mouthpiece and form a seal so that air doesn’t escape. 3. To create the sound, you make a vibrating sound with your lips, otherwise known as “blowing raspberries.” You don’t have to blow For more information, check out:: too hard. https://www.didgeridoodojo.com/ 4. Keep your lips relaxed. If a trumpet-like sound beginner-didgeridoo-lessons/ comes out, try to blow the air without your For some great didgeridoo playing, mouth on the didgeridoo, then go back and try check out: https:// again. www.youtube.com/watch? 5. Your drone may only last a few seconds, but v=9g592I-p-dc and practice will help you to learn to hold more air. https://www.youtube.com/watch? Remember: stay relaxed! v=Nr8UZLm1VeE
beat. steady a create can
speeds or in different ways, and you you and ways, different in or speeds
Shake the egg shaker at different different at shaker egg the Shake 2.
sound. the like you
just your fingers, depending on how how on depending fingers, your just
your whole hand to hold the shaker, or or shaker, the hold to hand whole your
each hand, or two in one. You can use use can You one. in two or hand, each
The shakers can be held with one in in one with held be can shakers The 1.
Play: to How Ghantada Country of Origin: India and Pakistan
The ghantada is a traditional set of bells made by the Lohar community from Kutch, which is originally from Sindh, and which is now in Pakistan. Some ghantada bells have a carved wooden pendulum creates a sound that can be calibrated to produce various tones. This set of bells is a type of idiophone, which is an instrument that creates sound by vibrating, which is done in this case by
striking the instrument.
hand.
clack by only shaking them with one one with them shaking only by clack
either side of a handle, making them them making handle, a of side either
places the two shells of the castanet on on castanet the of shells two the places
Spanish music. The handle castanet castanet handle The music. Spanish
as Roman, Portuguese, Swiss, and and Swiss, Portuguese, Roman, as
castanets, which are used in such music music such in used are which castanets,
This instrument is somewhat similar to to similar somewhat is instrument This
including the clapper, rattle, and shaker. shaker. and rattle, clapper, the including
several different percussive instruments, instruments, percussive different several
This instrument is a combination of of combination a is instrument This
Rattle Shaker Clacker Clapper How to Play:
1. Place the ghantada flat on a table. The mallets can be placed in the holes on the small end when not in use. 2. The large bells have lower sounds. The closer you hit to the edge of the bell, the more full (and loud!) your sound will be. 3. Both mallets can be used at one time. Try to experiment with the sounds, speeds, and volumes that you strike
the bells.
produced. is sound the loud how
provide more control for how often and and often how for control more provide
press the pieces together, but may may but together, pieces the press
hand on each handle. This will also also will This handle. each on hand
The clacker can also be held with one one with held be also can clacker The 2.
sound.
back and forth to create the clacking clacking the create to forth and back
by the tail of the animal and shaken shaken and animal the of tail the by
The clacker can be held in one hand hand one in held be can clacker The 1.
Play: to How Hoop Drum Country of Origin: Canada and United States
Both drums and rattles were traditional instruments used by First Nations peoples. They serve many purposes, such as in ceremonies, music, and healing. The drums vary within different regions of North America, but their most common use today is for powwows, and they are often a single-person hand drum. Their construction varies with each region as well, but typically are made from wood with animal hide stretched
overtop for the drum head.
end. one
Canadian and Atlantic folk music, are connected on on connected are music, folk Atlantic and Canadian
are separate, but others, like those used in French French in used those like others, but separate, are
Some spoons, like those used in Turkish folk music, music, folk Turkish in used those like spoons, Some
against another by hitting it on the hands and legs. legs. and hands the on it hitting by another against
they are played by hitting the convex side of one spoon spoon one of side convex the hitting by played are they
different cultures for centuries. Often made of wood, wood, of made Often centuries. for cultures different
Spoons have been used for music across many many across music for used been have Spoons
Provinces Atlantic the as well
especially in Québécois and Acadian music, as as music, Acadian and Québécois in especially
United Kingdom, Russia, Turkey, and Canada, Canada, and Turkey, Russia, Kingdom, United
Country of Origin: United States, Greece, Greece, States, United Origin: of Country
Spoons How to Play:
1. Adjust the hand grip to fit your hand inside. You can also simply hold the grip from the outside. 2. The beater can be used to hit the drum at varying speeds and volumes.
For more information, check out:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6bqcgzHI80 For some great examples of the hoop drum being played, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImjIY5xUveM and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqBzdNpnyYY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyxjmZu6UBc
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc7lnBPalcU
out: check played, being spoons the of examples great some For
hand. your of back the as well as
and rhythms. Don’t be afraid to play on both legs, legs, both on play to afraid be Don’t rhythms. and
Continue these movements with varying speeds speeds varying with movements these Continue 3.
hand. your hit to up back them
spoons, hit the spoons on your leg, then bring bring then leg, your on spoons the hit spoons,
With your other hand waiting overtop of the the of overtop waiting hand other your With 2.
legs. your of
hand. You’ll hold the spoons a few inches over one one over inches few a spoons the hold You’ll hand.
Hold the handle of the spoons in your dominant dominant your in spoons the of handle the Hold 1.
Play: to How