Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Choosing a Unique New Percussion Instrument – What Is a Cajón?

cajon drum lessons music instruments

A cajón is a unique percussion instrument originating in Peru. This type of instrument is well-known in South-America but not so popular in other parts of the world. While it started out as an established instrument played primarily in Afro-Peruvian music, over the years the cajón has made its way into many other genres, including flamenco music and various other forms of Latin American music.

 

The cajón is a box-shaped instrument made from 13-19 mm thick wood and designed to be played by slapping both the front and the rear faces. Generally made from plywood, the instrument dates back to the 16th century, and it was generally used by slaves who arrived from west and central Africa laboring in central Peru. The instrument has gradually gained a great deal of popularity in Latin America, especially after it was promoted by such well-known percussionists as Caitro Soto.

 

The modern day cajón is considered to be an extremely versatile percussion instrument that can be adapted to a variety of different musical styles. From jazz to rock, pop and funk, the box-shaped drum is rapidly being adopted by many different bands today, most of them using it as an alternate bass drum when they prefer to avoid minimalist drum kits that offer a more “mainstream” sound.  Sign up for drum lessons Denver area to learn how to play the cajón.

First Posted on: Choosing a Unique New Percussion Instrument – What Is a Cajón?

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