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Shakers and Rattles

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Your network or browser security settings may be blocking the products from loading (to confirm, try opening this page on your phone's cellular network).

Please try the following options to proceed with your order:

1. To place your order over the phone, call us Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm CST at 1-800-397-9378.

2. Shop via a different browser or network connection (i.e. on your phone or with a different Wi-Fi network).

3. Contact your IT team to ask them to whitelist js.klevu.com.

4. You can also click here to access our digital catalog. Use the search at the top of the Catalog screen to find a product, click a link to navigate the product detail page (product pages will load normally), and add it to your cart. You can also navigate directly to product pages by adding a 6-digit item number (i.e. "400278") to the end of our URL (i.e. Westmusic.com/400278).

Diversity and Versatility in Shakers and Rattles

Shakers and rattles are integral components of the percussion family, offering a range of sounds that can enhance any musical genre. These handheld instruments are prized for their ease of use and ability to add complex rhythmic textures to a musical ensemble or solo performance.

Percussion Shaker Varieties

Percussion shakers come in various shapes and sizes, each producing distinct sounds. Their versatility allows them to be used in numerous musical settings, from studio recordings to live performances. Their sounds can be subtle enough to blend into the background or pronounced enough to lead a rhythmic section.

Shekere: A Traditional African Instrument

The shekere is an African shaker consisting of a dried gourd with beads woven into a net covering the exterior. This instrument produces a sound combining rattling beads and the hollow tone of the gourd, making it a popular choice in traditional African and contemporary world music ensembles.

Wooden Maracas: Classic Percussion Instruments

Wooden maracas are one of the most recognizable shakers, often used in Latin music. Made from hollow wooden shells filled with beads or seeds, maracas produce a distinctive, dry sound essential to the rhythmic patterning in salsa and other Caribbean genres.

Egg Shaker: Compact and Versatile

Egg shakers are small, egg-shaped instruments with tiny beads that produce a soft, subtle sound. Due to their compact size and light sound, egg shakers are often used in studios to add a gentle, rhythmic foundation that does not overpower other instruments.

Cabasa: Textured Tone

The cabasa, originally from Africa, consists of a looped chain wrapped around a wide cylinder fitted with a handle. The metal beads in the chain rattle against the wooden or metal cylinder, creating a scraping, shaker-like sound. This instrument is commonly used in educational settings for rhythm training and professional music production to add texture and depth to a piece.