Meinl Percussion Wood Claves Classic - 1 Pair of Cylindrical Claves - With Cutting Sound - Musical Instrument - Siam Oak, Natural (CL1HW)

Really versatile in its own small way, the Cajon Add-On motion shaker is an interesting twist on one of the most basic of percussion instruments. Shakers are generally limited in what they do and how they do it, and are at their best when the musician is skilled enough to draw light and shade from their limited range of sounds.Meinl's use of a finger strap opens up the possibilities for the shaker to be part of something else, which can either be percussion-based - when you'd wear it as it is in the product image, above the fingers, guitar-based - when you'd also wear it this way and it would provide emphasis to a strumming hand, for example (needs discipline, I've tried it!) or even cupped in the hand while attached to the finger. During a "throw" (when you move a shaker away from your body) you have the option of opening your hand or keeping it shut, or somewhere in between such as holding it loosely around the edge. This creates subtly different sounds and potentially adds a lot to the sounds you can create and thus the rhythms you can help set up, when combined with different degrees of force and emphasis.It's obviously a little part of a far greater whole, but opens up some interesting options for nice, real, human, percussion. I use drum machines quite a lot and it is little touches added by these humble instruments that can help humanise the beats.

Wicked little finger shakers

Nice crisp sound from this shaker, but keep in mind that it is too loud to use for soft practise/performance on the Cajon. Rather, it shines when the cajon is played at full volume. Really fills in the gaps nicely.The only reason it didn't get five stars, is that it does creep along your finger a little bit when you are really going for it.A nice point is that, unlike wrist mounted shakers, you still get a little bit of the shaker sound when you are doing finger-rolls :)All in all, really good for the money :)

Purchased these Claves for my younger granddaughter age 3 1/2 who looks wistfully on when her elder two bothers play their guitars, which they do rather well. It was hoped that she would be able to feel part of the family ensemble with these claves and then perhaps aspire to learn an instrument like her brothers. It was a successful ambition as she immediately took to the very pleasant and melodic percussion sound that is easily made by tapping the two claves together, and now feels that she has a contribution to make to and is part of the family band. In fact she has assumed the role of leader of the group - that's young girls for you and only acts as an object lesson to her brothers of the male role in society.

My bongo playing brother ( for whom this was bought for)thought this was a fabulous little device, I can see him using it a lot in the future.

Nice idea , bought it for a friend of mine. Should be cheaper

The actual product is well made and sounds great, however the elasticated band to go round your finger is far to short and therefore to tight and, in my case, stops the blood flow to my fingers. You will need really thin fingers for this product.

My claves arrived in time to practise before using them in a performance, ukuleles mostly. They sound just right, like hitting two sticks together. It's how you hit them that matters of course, which is what I told the ukulele player who asked me why I was playing a nursery school instrument. I showed him my two spoons joined together and my nutshell rattle, and asked him why he played a toy guitar.I should make full disclosure and say I play ukulele too and think its a great instrument. Not like a banjo ...