| Cajon drums are drums presently crafted out of | | | | cajon players like Mario Cortes, Nina Rodriguez, and |
| wood, but the Cajon drums of yesteryear were in | | | | Stephan Maass are making the instrument much |
| the form of simplistic boxes, tiny drawers from | | | | more accessible with their modern playing techniques. |
| dressers or crates for fish. The actual term "Cajon" is | | | | How to Play the Cajon |
| derived from the Spanish language and when | | | | The side of the Cajon drum that is crafted out of |
| translated means "box." As time passed, the Cajon | | | | specific wood or fiberglass material, also known as |
| drum was reshaped and reconstructed to appear as | | | | the frontplate, is the actual playing area of the drum. |
| it does today: a six sided wooden box with a whole | | | | The side with a hole cut into it is typically the back |
| on one side of it, usually the back side. The wood | | | | siding of Cajon drums and is the portion that is |
| utilized on five of the wood panels in Cajon drums is | | | | positioned perpendicular to the Cajon drum head or |
| crafted out of 3/4 inch wood: typically white wood, | | | | parallel to the head depending on the drum style. The |
| or pine wood. The last side of the Cajon drum box is | | | | tapping region on the Cajon drum is further identified |
| crafted from plywood material. | | | | as tapa or drum head. |
| Cajon drums have a history that can be traced back | | | | When an individual plays Cajon, he or she positions |
| to central and West African slaves from Peru, as well | | | | their body above and over the box; some drummers |
| certain regions in Cuba; it is believed that the drum | | | | straddle the box while playing, and others sit upon it |
| was created in the 1800s on the coast of Peru, and | | | | when they play. The drummer will take the Cajon |
| in just five decades time the Cajon drum became a | | | | and tip them or tilt them inward in order to begin |
| widely used and widely appreciated instrument. At | | | | playing. The surface of the drum is then tapped with |
| the turn of the century, people began to experiment | | | | the open palm and fingertips to derive different |
| with the shape of the Cajon drum to change the | | | | sound effects from the instrument. |
| sounds that the instrument would produce when | | | | Cajon Drum: Open Tone |
| played. | | | | With a flat hand and fingers together, you will hit the |
| This instrument is now identified with Afro/Cuban | | | | front plate with the full length of all four fingers at |
| music such as the famous rumba, as well as Afro | | | | the top of the drum. Thumb is lose. |
| Peruvian style music. The type of cajon drum that | | | | Cajon Drum: Bass Tone |
| was first used in regions of Peru was actually a | | | | With a flat hand, this time with your fingers spread |
| wooden box or crate that was commonly utilized for | | | | and open palm, hit the frontplate with your entire |
| harvesting fruit. Slaves in Africa relied on the crates | | | | hand in the middle/upper area of your cajon. |
| as a drumming tool and later developed the Cajon | | | | X8 Drums is a premier online store for all things hand |
| drum from the simplest fruit harvesting wood crate | | | | drums, including the Cajon Drum, Djembe and |
| design. | | | | Didgeridoo. Our staff is well trained at helping artists |
| The cajon is gaining mainstream interest from all | | | | and hand drum enthusiasts fill their needs with the |
| types of percussionists around the world. Famous | | | | right gear. |