What exactly is a Box Drum or Cajon?
There is been a fantastic surge in
interest in box drums lately. You'll see and hear them everywhere in all sorts
of music from flamenco to globe to bluegrass, jazz, fusion, pop, rock and
hip-hop. American Idol has even featured a percussionist inside the home band
who in some cases brings it downstage to accompany an acoustic unplugged
efficiency. 
So what exactly is a box drum?
Box drums, also popularly
recognized by their Spanish name, cajón (pronounced ka - hone) are really pretty
old. They have been made in the 1700's by African slaves in coastal places of
Peru. As their Spanish overlords forbade them from obtaining any musical
instruments, one theory is the fact that these instruments had been fashioned
from the shipping crates and boxes that had been being unloaded off ships.
Slaves sitting on boxes beginning make beats and there you might have a new
drum.
The word "cajón" actually translates as drawer in Spanish. So a
further theory is the fact that some enterprising musician pulled out his wooden
drawer and began playing beats around the thin wooden bottom surface. Whatever
the true story is, the box drum has been heard in Peruvian folk music for
centuries.
cajon
drum
Integration into Flamenco music and beyond
Inside the 1980's, world renowned flamenco guitarist Paco
DeLucia was offered a cajón by a Peruvian maker as a gift. DeLucia was
fascinated using the sound and had it incorporated into his group. Someplace
along the way, they began experimenting with adding guitar strings operating
along the faceplate from the drum.
This added a sizzle impact which
proved very beneficial. By striking unique areas on the drum you could possibly
get a great facsimile of a full kit sound with this one portable box! I've heard
these drums becoming employed in jazz, folk, bluegrass and also in music therapy
classes and kindergartens.
Design
The design from the box drum is just about unchanged from days
of old. It is a box about 18 inches tall with a square footprint of about one
foot by one foot. The percussionist sits straddled around the box along with the
front surface is struck by the hands. By hitting with different components of
your hand and fingers and in distinct areas, you can get quite various sounds.
Modern Box Drums
Today's cajóns or box drums have began to branch out as modern
day instrument makers make refinements and innovations. You can find some that
use snare drum wires as opposed to guitar strings. There are some using a
pronounced bass effect by adding a front facing bass sound hole. There are
actually even some which can be played using a bass drum pedal or with brushes.
Why the Surge in Popularity?
The box drum is definitely an attractive solution for
percussionists for quite a few reasons: portability, versatility, and
affordability. You do not have to plug it in and can be utilized even inside a
street-corner busking scenario. And they may be inexpensive also.
It is
possible to purchase a professionally produced and gorgeous wood instrument for
a little more than $100! And you can even get a kit to create one particular for
half of that. 
And along the way, the cajon tends to make a nice finish
table or additional seating in your living space! I believe we are going to hear
and see lots of extra box drums in recordings, on stage and in schools as a lot
more musicians find out this stunning instrument.
Get to know more about
drum
cajon