Rainstick
A rainstick is a long, hollow tube which is filled with small baubles such as beads or beans and has small pins arranged helically on its inside surface. When the stick is upended, the beads fall to the other end of the tube, making a sound reminiscent of a rainstorm as they bounce off the pins. The rainstick is generally used to create atmospheric sound effects or as a percussion instrument.
The rainstick is generally considered to have been invented in South America's Chile, and was played in the belief that it could bring about rainstorms.
Playing Technique
The rainstick can either be held at a 45 degrees, allowing the beads to fall, creating an atmospheric effect like the sound of rainfall. It can also be tapped to make a more controlled sound, or it can be used to create percussive rhythms as a shaker.
External links
- Make your own rainstick
- There is an article in a Peruvian journal, Quepo (Roque & Ramirez 2005. Palos de lluvia y Cactaceas) which describes the Peruvian species of cacti used to make these instruments.
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