Shaker (percussion)

The word shaker describes a large number of percussive musical instruments used for creating rhythm in music.

They are so called because the method of creating sound involves shaking them—moving them back and forth rather than striking them. Most may also be struck for a greater accent on certain beats. Shakers are often used in rock and popular styles to provide the ride pattern along with or substituting for the ride cymbal.

Types of shaker

A shaker may comprise a container, partially full of small loose objects such as beads, which create the percussive sounds as they collide with each other, the inside surface, or other fixed objects inside the container – as in a Rainstick, Caxixi or Egg Shaker.

It may also comprise a structure on which are loosely fixed parts which collide with one another when shaken – for example a tambourine or shekere.

ee also

*Hand percussion