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Cajón

Our new range of cajons are in selectively hand built by master Spanish cajon makers. They are available in 3 different designs and pitches. The wood is sourced from Spanish sawmills and fulfils all the ethical and legal requirements that World Rhythm Percussion proudly uphold.

They all have an adjustable V snare system gives a good range between high and low notes.

Working very closely with Master Spanish craftsmen we use only selected first quality woods, chosen for strength, moisture resistance, sound quality and durability.
All of our WRP Cajóns have a unique tuning system which allows for the musician to tune the Cajón using an Allen key to provide a clear sound and differentiate the bass medium and high pitched tones.
Every Cajón is handmade and goes through a strict quality control process ensuring that every Cajón meets the needs of even the most demanding musician.

 

Cajón History

The Cajon’s history dates back as far as the 16th century Spanish colonial era. The most likely origin of the Cajon comes from boxes or crates that were used to hold food for the long journeys to South America. The slaves aboard the boats and docks were prohibited to play or own instruments. At some point these boxes were sat upon and “played” they were easily disguised as seats, allowing the rhythms so deep seated in African culture to live on, despite restrictions preventing the playing of music. Being one of the few recreations available the popularity soon spread and the instrument we now know today as the Cajon was born.

The Cajon has evolved a long way over the last 400 years. Today the Cajon is established in Afro-Peruvian, Andean, Cuban, and Flamenco music. So much so that it was declared as the national instrument of Peru. The Cajon is played primarily with the hands and fingers but the feet are also used in the more modern style of playing. It is fast becoming an established part of any serious percussionist’s collection because of its adaptable sound.

There are a variety of different models available on the market today, made from a wide selection of wood. The construction varies a little but the basic fundamentals are the same, they involve creating a box using quality 3 quarter inch white wood ply. The top sides and bottom are solid, where as the back has a hole at the lower part which allows the sound to escape. The front plate which is also the playing surface is of much thinner wood. There are often metal strings running down the inside of the front plate, creating a snare which can be adjusted with the aid of an Alan key on higher end models.

The explosion in the popularity of the Cajon has meant that percussionists and Cajon makers have experimented resulting in a new breed of Cajon. There has never been a better time to get involved in playing one of the most versatile exciting and easy to learn percussion instruments around today.