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You might get confused when you see a percussionist sitting on a small wooden chest, beating out rhythms on its surface. Do you know which musical instrument is he beating out? If no, then don’t worry as we have the answer, which is Cajon. It has been used for traditional musical forms of different cultures including Afro, flamenco and Cuban music. Cajon is basically originated from Peru in the 16th century by the slaves of western and central African origin.

What Makes a Cajon Popular?

Cajon’s compact design, portability and modest volume it popular among musicians. The present-day Cajon is quite stylish and looks similar to a wooden box, but it is more than that. The sides of the Cajon are strong and stiff while the main side is made of plywood and forms the playing surface. There is a hole in the box’s rear for low-frequency projection. Some of its versions include a snare made up of tensioned guitar strings inside the box that help to produce a pseudo-snare sound and deep bass.

The popularity of cajons is growing with the passing of each day and because of all this, the instrument has found a place into many musical genres across the globe. The growing popularity of cajon not only grabbed the attention of musicians but made people including students as its enthusiasts. They always look for information about how does a Cajon work and where could they get it.

Below listed are points to remember when you play an instrument like a cajon:

• Posture:- While playing cajon, you need to bend over to play the lower part of the drum. It is recommended to stay relaxed and keep your head and neck aligned. This will help you keep the stress away.
• Ear Protection :-When you play cajon, your head will be in close proximity to a lot of volume, which can affect your hearing in the long run. If you want to protect your hearing, then it is recommended to wear specialized ear plugs.
• Protect Your Hands:- A cajon produces a lot of sound which can be produced using your hands. While playing the instrument if you feel pain in your hands, then you should take ample protection. What you could do is to wear band-aids and sports tape on your fingers. You can even use sticks to protect direct contact of fingers with the instrument.

By following the given tips you can get the most of your cajon playing session.