Rattle (percussion instrument)

For the rotating instrument, see Ratchet (instrument).

Rattle from Papua New Guinea, made from leaves, seeds and coconut shell, to be tied around a dancer’s ankle

Maracas from Mexico

A rattle is a type of percussion instrument which produces a sound when shaken. Rattles are described in the Hornbostel–Sachs system as Shaken Idiophones or Rattles (112.1).

Rattles include:

• Maracas, widely used in Cha Cha Cha and jazz.
• The egg-shaped plastic chicken shake, filled with steel shot and available in varying tones depending on the size and quantity of shot.
• Folk instruments especially used in ceremonial dance.
• Toy rattles for infants.

Examples

• Chankana
• ganza
• hosho (instrument)
• maraca
• maracitos
• katsa (instrument)

See also

• Indirectly struck idiophones
• Rattle (percussion beater)
• Rattle (disambiguation)