So what is this percussion instrument called?

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Permalink Reply by Matt Osgood on April 26, 2009 at 1:20pm

Hey Mark, it's a cajon (pronounced 'cahon') - there's a guy who plays one at our church and you're right, it's a fantastic way of adding drum kit-esque rhythm in a more acoustic setup up. youtube has some amazing solos on there and you'll be able to buy one from any percussion shop that sells Latin percussion.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Read on April 26, 2009 at 1:40pm

I want one.

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Permalink Reply by Julia Chantrell on April 26, 2009 at 9:06pm

You would... :-)
Of course, if you learnt to play it with your feet you really could play it and the guitar at the same time... and Chris would have a nervous breakdown.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Read on April 26, 2009 at 9:40pm

If you look at some of the videos on youtube, it looks as though they use one of their feet to alter the bass tone, by placing it at different points up the front board.

So, again, another instrument I can't play whilst playing my guitar, I'm afraid..... I shall have to learn the harmonica.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Kendal on April 26, 2009 at 1:52pm

Hi Matt
Thanks - good to hear of someone who's worked with one. I happen to live within walking distance of Hobgoblin who are one of the big folk music suppliers. They advertise them so I think I'm gonna have to check them out!

Thanks for the info!

It'd be good to hear if anyone else has experience of them in a worship music context!

Mark

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Permalink Reply by Matt Blick on July 8, 2009 at 11:54am

The new frontiers church in derby uses one very effectively

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kerslake on April 26, 2009 at 3:59pm

Yes, it's a cajon - I've got one. Originally an improvised instrument made from a packing case, it's a wooden box with a round hole in the rear face (same idea as the hole in an acoustic guitar) and a steel snare stretched across inside the front face. If you hit the middle of the front face you get a bass-rich sound, if you strike it near the edges (especially the corners) the snare gets active so you get a snare-like sound. By moving your hand around you can get pretty much any blend of the two extremes.

It has a really natural acoustic sound, if that's what you like, but to me the big advantage is portability - you can carry it with one hand, then sit down on it and you have a versatile rhythm instrument within seconds! Great for small groups and of course you can stick a microphone on it if you need more volume in a bigger setting.

Great worship instrument in my view!

Mine's made by Meinl.

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Permalink Reply by Wulf Forrester-Barker on April 27, 2009 at 7:15am

I think they are great. I have only recently come across them - a musical project I'm working on in Oxford welcomed a percussionist recently and I was amazed when he started playing the box he was sitting on. It has similar sounds to a kit but blends with an acoustic / low volume vibe really well.

Wulf

ps. FWIW, cajón is a Spanish word with lots of meanings but could simply be translated "box" - http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/caj%C3%B3n

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Permalink Reply by David Bull on June 7, 2009 at 10:08pm

I have just had a look at the hobgoblin web site, this is the page you want.

http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/contentsframe.php?MS=cajon

David Bull.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Kendal on June 8, 2009 at 8:02am

HI David
Thanks for that. In fact I popped into Hobgoblin (they have a store that I can walk too) after writing the above but on that particular day they didn't have any in stock! Never mind they should have some more by now so I'll try and pop back!

They really do appeal to me as a useful addition to the worship music armoury but of course what I need is a percussionist in the church to share my enthusiasm! Even if I get one and learn something of playing it I'll probably still be more useful to the church as a guiatrist or bassist!

Mark

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Girling on June 9, 2009 at 1:09pm

Hi there,
My husband owns and plays one, mainly in small group situations and he loves it. We first saw it when we were on holiday in Spain, a flamenco group used it, and my hubby had to have one! He got it through PMS.
It's great because it has different layers (if you like), playing like a bass and then there are sounds like a snare drum too.
I assume they are spanish. There are quite a few web sites and youtube clips to show you how to use it. I'll ask Leon if there's anything else I can tell you about it...
Sarah

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Read on July 4, 2009 at 12:35pm

I got one for my birthday! :-)

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