Shekere
The shekere (from Yoruba Ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀) is a percussion instrument made from a dried gourd covered with a net of beads or cowries. It can make sounds in different ways. The instrument can be shaken, tapped against the hand, or held in one hand while the other hand moves the gourd’s handle.
Cabasa
The cabasa is a percussion instrument similar to the shekere. It is made with loops of steel chain wrapped around a wooden cylinder. The cylinder is attached to a long handle made of wood or plastic.
Castanets
Castanets, also called clackers or palillos, are a type of percussion instrument that makes sound by itself. They are used in Spanish, Calé, Moorish, Ottoman, Greek, Italian, Mexican, Sephardic, Portuguese, Filipino, Brazilian, and Swiss music. In ancient Greece and Rome, a similar instrument called the crotalum was used.
Claves
Claves are a percussion instrument made of two short, wooden sticks. Each stick is about 20–25 centimeters (8–10 inches) long and 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) wide. Traditionally, claves are made from wood such as rosewood, ebony, or grenadilla.
Maraca
A maraca is a type of rattle used in many types of Caribbean and Latin music. It is also known as a shaker or chac-chac. The maraca is shaken using a handle and is often played in pairs.
Güiro
The güiro (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈɡwiɾo]) is a percussion instrument made from a hollow gourd with an open end. One side of the gourd has parallel notches cut into it. To play the instrument, a stick or tines are rubbed along the notches, creating a sound similar to a zipper.
Agogô
An agogô (Yoruba: [‘aɡoɡo]) is a type of bell instrument. It comes from West African music and is now used in both traditional and modern Brazilian music. Agogôs are usually made from two metal pieces shaped like cones, each making a different sound.
Cowbell
A cowbell is a bell that is placed around the neck of animals that roam freely. This helps herders hear the bell and know where the animal is, especially when the animal is grazing in areas that are hard to see, such as hills or large open spaces. These bells are often called “cow bells” because they are frequently used with cattle, but they can also be used on many other types of animals.
Timbales
Timbales are drums with one drumhead that are not very deep. They have metal covers and are shallower than single-headed tom-toms. They are usually tuned to a higher pitch for their size.
Bongo drum
Bongos (Spanish: bongó) are a musical instrument from Cuba and African traditions. They are made up of two small hand drums with open bottoms, one larger and one smaller. The larger drum is called hembra (Spanish for “female”), and the smaller is called macho (Spanish for “male”).