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Instruments of Cuba
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When people think
of instruments of Cuba, they think of popular instruments in Latin America.
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However...Cuba does have authentic instruments of their own. As you continue,
you will be able to
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learn about popular
instruments as well as authentic. Afterwards,
you can decide for yourself which
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| instruments should
be used for the music of Cuba.
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Two Kinds of Instruments
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Authentic Instruments
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Popular Instruments
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Most of the instruments listed below are from the
percussion family. This means that the
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instrument must be struck ior hit with an object.
Each instrument has a unique background.
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Conga
Drum
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This instrument is played by using your hands to
make the sound. Most ciongas come in different sizes and are played
sitting down.
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Bongo
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This instrument is higher in pitch. To play
this instrument one must be able to use their hands
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Cabasa
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This instrument is played by holding the metal beads
in ones hand and twisting them back and forth.
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Castinets
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These instruments create a "clicking" sound. They
are usied in dance music.
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Guiro
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This instrument creates a "scraping" sound due to
the ridges on the body. It is also called the "wooden fish".
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Shekere
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This instrument orginally came from Africa and was
adopted into Latin Culture through imigration..
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Maracas
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To play this instrument, one must shake it with their
hands. This instrument is the hardest to play because one must have
a lot of control.
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Authentic Instruments
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These
instruments are normally made from authentic materials. Most of the
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time, musicans make their instruments
out of natural resources including shells, wood,
seeds, and
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other materials found in nature.
The following instruments belong to thepercussion family
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SHEKERE
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This instrument is played by holding
the base in your hands and either shaking controllable or running one's
fingers across the seeds.
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BATA DRUM
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ABAKUA DRUM
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Both of these drum produce sound
by your hands. The different sizes of the drum produce different timbres
(sounds)
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YUKA DRUMS
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These drums produce a low sound.
One must be seated to play them.
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