The Cajon

The Cajon

Mr. Williams

Art M. IV.6.1

OBJ: I will be able to identify
a musical instrument from a

different culture

Agenda

Introduction
Origins of the

Cajon

Basics on how to

play the Cajon

Cajon

Performance

Let's Play the

Cajon

The Cajon

Introduction
The cajón was developed by African slaves
in Coastal Peru during the 18th century. played by
slapping the front or rear faces (generally thin
plywood) with the hands, fingers, or sometimes
implements such as brushes, mallets, or sticks.
Cajónes are primarily played in Afro-Peruvian
music

The Cajon

3

Playing techniques

• Traditionally, the cajón player sits on top of the
instrument (with the rectangular box sitting vertically),
while striking the tapa between the knees. The cajón
may sit on the ground or be tilted at a slight angle with
the box resting on the edge of the bottom. The player
strikes the tapa with the palm and fingers in different
positions to achieve a variety of sounds. Below are
some of the most commonly used strokes.

Presentation Title

Bass Tone

Presentation Title

Strike the middle of the tapa with a flat hand, hitting the face
with both the palm and fingers slightly apart, and allowing
the hand to bounce off the instrument immediately after
impact. This stroke is made only a few inches from the tapa
and creates a warm, full tone.

High Tone

Presentation Title

Strike the top corner of the tapa with the palm, allowing the
fingers to strike the two two-to-four inches of the tapa face.
The fingers must be relaxed and kept slightly apart to achieve
the ‘pop’ sound. This is similar to the slap tone popular in
Latin drumming.

High Tone

Presentation Title

Strike the top corner of the tapa with the palm, allowing the
fingers to strike the two two-to-four inches of the tapa face.
The fingers must be relaxed and kept slightly apart to achieve
the ‘pop’ sound. This is similar to the slap tone popular in
Latin drumming.

The Ancestors

The Cajon

The cajón is often used as a bass drum in
minimalist settings by bands who want a simpler
alternative to a full drum kit. It can also double as
a seat for the drummer.

The Cajon

9

There are two theories about the origin of the
cajón, which comes from slave musicians in the
Spanish colonial Americas. One theory suggests
that the drum is a direct descendant of boxlike
musical instruments from west and central Africa,
particularly Angola and the Antilles. The other
theory is that these instruments were adapted by
slaves from the Spanish shipping crates available
to them.

The Cajon

10

Origins of the Cajon

The Cajon

Basics on how to play the Cajon

The Cajon

Cajon Performance

The Cajon