cajon
Box you thump
A cajón is a box-shaped percussion instrument, originally from Peru, played by sitting on it and striking the front face with the hands.
The wooden box produces a range of tones depending on where and how it's struck—bass notes from the center, higher snare-like sounds near the edges.
Cajóns appear in flamenco, acoustic pop, and unplugged performances where a full drum kit would be impractical: The drummer switched to cajón for the stripped-down set.
Mouth-produced rhythm imitation
- acoustic drumUnpowered struck percussion instrument
- birchPale deciduous hardwood
- mahoganyReddish-brown tropical lumber
- sound holeInstrument's tonal vent
Passionate artistic soul-force
Group performing on struck instruments
- drum circleCommunal rhythmic gathering
- unpluggedDisconnected from power
- acoustic setPerformance using non-electric instruments
- jam sessionInformal improvisational music gathering
world music · Afro-Peruvian · singer-songwriter · street musician · busking · coffeehouse · small venue · intimate setting
Open-handed blow
- bass toneDeep musical frequency
- fingertipsTerminal phalanx pads
- palm strikeBlow with open hand
- brushBristled cleaning tool
roll · ghost note · rim shot · heel-toe · tap · flutter · cross-stick · dynamics
Amplified oscillation at natural frequency
- timbreSound's distinctive character
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- sustainKeep something going continuously
- overtonesImplicit secondary meanings
warmth · attack · decay · soundboard · vibration · tone · bass response · snap
beat box
Mouth-produced rhythm imitation
- acoustic drumUnpowered struck percussion instrument
- birchPale deciduous hardwood
- mahoganyReddish-brown tropical lumber
duende
Passionate artistic soul-force
percussion ensemble
Group performing on struck instruments
- drum circleCommunal rhythmic gathering
- unpluggedDisconnected from power
- acoustic setPerformance using non-electric instruments
jam session · world music · Afro-Peruvian · singer-songwriter · street musician · busking · coffeehouse · small venue · intimate setting · accompaniment
slap
Open-handed blow
- bass toneDeep musical frequency
- fingertipsTerminal phalanx pads
- palm strikeBlow with open hand
brush · roll · ghost note · rim shot · heel-toe · tap · flutter · cross-stick · dynamics · accent
resonance
Amplified oscillation at natural frequency
- timbreSound's distinctive character
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- sustainKeep something going continuously
overtones · warmth · attack · decay · soundboard · vibration · tone · bass response · snap · punch
- drumsbass drum, bongo, tambourine, snare, snare drum
- percussionbass drum, bongos, drum, congas, cowbell
- instrumentsguitar, guitars, piano, pianos, drum
- musical instrumentssynthesizer, electric guitar, electric bass, keyboard, theremin
- Latin instrumentsmaracas, bongos, congas, guitarron, guiro
- Latin Percussioncongas, bongos, timbales, claves, maracas
cajontimpani
Tunable orchestral percussion
xylophone · vibraphone · marimba · glockenspiel · tubular bells