Shakers & Maracas

Shakers and maracas are used in several music genres

Shakers and maracas are percussion instruments and perhaps best known as a staple part of the rhythm in South and Central American folk music. Like the rattle of a rattlesnake in a dramatic tango or a more exuberant version in samba or salsa, shakers and maracas create a hypnotic rhythm with great effect.

The instruments are not only found in folk music but are also part of the percussion section in classical symphony orchestras. Although they are modest in size compared to most other instruments in such an orchestra, they can spice up a harmony or melody just as well as all the others.

Typically, they are played by shaking them in time in the hand. They can, of course, be shaken in various ways depending on the rhythm one wants to create. The classic shaker or maraca has an egg-shaped head attached to a handle that one can hold. They are either made of wood or some form of plastic.

Shakers and maracas in all shapes and sizes

As can be seen above, the selection is much larger than just the classic shakers and maracas. Some can be strapped to the hands, others to the fingers, and yet others to the ankles. There are rhythm instruments for all limbs, which can be practical in several contexts - especially if you are a one-man band and need to play several instruments at the same time. In addition, they also come in many different shapes. Some resemble hand weights - thankfully much lighter - others are long sticks, and more untraditionally, there are also square shakers.

For the younger target group, or just those with a youthful spirit, there are also shakers and maracas made as colorful animals or framed in a cartoonish design. If you are looking for a rhythmic instrument for children that is fun and easy, these shakers and maracas are an obvious choice. Both if it is for the children themselves or a way to involve them in your own musical expressions.

Use shakers and maracas in your music production

It is no secret that over several decades of changing genres and styles, the use of shakers and maracas has been one of the instrumental elements that have been constant albeit with varying frequency. These percussive elements are a fantastic way to enhance your song's energy without getting in the way of the rest of your musical arrangement. Here are a few good ways to start using shakers and maracas in your music production.

1) The simple subdivision
The most common use of shakers and other percussion is through the addition of a simple, constant rhythm. This is known by music enthusiasts around the world as a subdivision - which literally divides a piece of music into smaller parts. This use of shakers and maracas can be heard on countless recordings. Just think of or turn on the Rolling Stones' Sympathy for the Devil. However, it is much more common to hear faster subdivisions, such as sixteenth notes, where they are used to enhance the songs' intensity. Try adding a simple sixteenth note shaker or maracas to the chorus of your song and hear how it feels.

2) "Backbeat"
Another good way to use these percussive instruments is to add them on backbeats (strike "2" and "4"). Try replacing the seiding with a maracas on these beats in a more subdued section of your song, such as a verse or a bridge. This is an excellent way to keep the track moving forward without sacrificing sensitivity, and it also gives your space the opportunity to grow dynamically in more energetic sections, such as the chorus. Listen to the intro and interlude of "Brown-Eyed Girl".

3) Supporting Parts
Here, it is important to use more than one shaker or maraca at the same time. While it is not uncommon to have two or more percussive instruments reinforcing the same precise rhythm, there is much to gain by splitting these unique instruments into different but supporting parts.

4) Accents
Many times there is a rhythmic element in the arrangement that is already playing backbeats and divisions like a hi-hat and seiding ville. If you want to add a little interest to your beat, you can try adding a shaker or maracas on different "accents" in the bar. These types of parts are generally syncopated, meaning they are not downbeats and often rhythmically "asymmetrical". The idea here is to complement the basic rhythm that the drum set is already playing without getting in the way of it. A good example of this usage is in the Rolling Stones' "Can't Get No Satisfaction".

5) Transitions
Another great way to use shakers and maracas to complement the energy of your song is for transitions in and out of different musical sections. Just as a swell of a brook can resonate, a shaker can play in an expressive crescendo-decrescendo to help convey the feeling of a particular part of your song. This works exceptionally well in ballads and more minimalist arrangements, where a brook's swell can distract the listener too much.