Something new, cool and alien to me..

[RHD03]

I picked up a cajon this week, been wanting one for a while now. Wondering if anyone on here has any experience with them? So far I really like this thing and I can see that it has lots of potential in certain settings.

UPDATE: Pics, vid, and cajon history on posts 14, 15 & 16!!

[pastor_bob]

RHD, did you forget about "pics or it didn't happen?"

I haven't played one, but I was at show my drum teacher was playing, and she came out from behind the kit to play on the Cajon for one song. It was nice.

[steveplaysyamaha]

I've always wanted a cajon, congrats. I think they'd be great for those jam sessions around a campfire with an acoustic guitar

(and of course, many many other things)

[RHD03]

RHD, did you forget about "pics or it didn't happen?"

I haven't played one, but I was at show my drum teacher was playing, and she came out from behind the kit to play on the Cajon for one song. It was nice.

Haha, no I didn't forget PB...just not at home right now so I don't have access to it. But I'll take some later.

[MartyM]

RHD, you are not alone..I want one too! hey just for giggles can you post an audio of you messing around with it? may be a hoot! It will take practice but I see this used in small venues with acoustic guitars..does yours have the snare wire feature?

[areFish]

I picked up a cajon this week, been wanting one for a while now. Wondering if anyone on here has any experience with them? So far I really like this thing and I can see that it has lots of potential in certain settings.

Which one did you pick up? I don't own one personally, but have access to one that I've played on a couple of occasions. They are allot of fun. Check out some cajon playing vids on YouTube and there are tips on how to cup your hands to get that bass tone out of it.

[RHD03]

I've always wanted a cajon, congrats. I think they'd be great for those jam sessions around a campfire with an acoustic guitar

(and of course, many many other things)

Thanks Steve! Exactly what I was thinking! Plus I'm just a big fan of anything unique and out of my "norm" that I can get my hands on!

[RHD03]

RHD, you are not alone..I want one too! hey just for giggles can you post an audio of you messing around with it? may be a hoot! It will take practice but I see this used in small venues with acoustic guitars..does yours have the snare wire feature?

Hey Marty, I'll try to get some pics up after a bit here, but audio may be a few days. And I got a sting cajon, no snare wires in this one.

[RHD03]

Which one did you pick up? I don't own one personally, but have access to one that I've played on a couple of occasions. They are allot of fun. Check out some cajon playing vids on YouTube and there are tips on how to cup your hands to get that bass tone out of it.

Thanks Fish, I got the Meinl string cajon with the makah Burl face plate. It's purdy

I am having fun with it so far, and I have been watching lots of vids on technique and what not. I'm liking the heel slide up and down the face plate...pretty cool effects that way.

[Xoferif09]

What is a cajon?

[RHD03]

What is a cajon?

Cajon literally means "box" haha...that's exactly what it is. I'm mobile right now but I'll post pics in just a bit.

[Zeta]

I really have wanted one for awhile. my band does a bit of acoustic stuff that it would sound great with.

[RHD03]

I really have wanted one for awhile. my band does a bit of acoustic stuff that it would sound great with.

Exactly, both my bands do acoustic gigs as well. Usually I don't play, or i pick up my acoustic and jam with them, or I have a dejembe I like to break out every once in a while but that's only fitting for certain tunes. I think the cajon will be a bit more versatile.

[RHD03]

Here is a bit of history on the origin of the cajon:

The cajon is a classic folk & pure "jug" instrument. (Jug instruments are instruments made from common, household, or work, supplies.)
The first cajons were the simplest box drums. In Peru and box drums were used as early as the 16th century. Some of, if not, the first box drums were made from fish crates by African slaves. These served as replacement percussion for their native drums.

Also, in Cuba, people have been transforming small dresser drawers into box drums for centuries.

In time these jug instruments were refined and became an important part of Peruvian and Cuban music.

Pine and other white wood with three quarter inch thickness was used on the five, solid sides of the box. The sixth, & final side was made up of a thin sheet of plywood. This thin sheet was equivalent to the drum head, and hence, the most common playing surface.

The top edges could be slapped against the box because they were often loose. A hole was cut in the side opposite the head, which allowed more sound to escape. To play the box, a player simply sat on it so that the striking surface was between his legs.

The cajon is most popular in Andean, Cuban, and Flamenco music, but it's down to earth, percussive qualities have become popular in various acoustic music settings.

And one of the thousands of cool cajon videos available on Youtube:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xengi6dcXmU"]Cajon Solo David Kuckhermann - YouTube[/ame]

[RHD03]

And of course...the pics

[RHD03]

[drumstix]

Looks nice RHD. I've always wanted a cajon as well. One of my uni classmates brought one in one day and I ended up playing it more than he did hahaha

You can get a 'cajonport', essentially a kickport for cajons from the same people that make the kickport. Maybe something to look into?

[pastor_bob]

Nice looking cajon RHD! Tell me a little about the string cajon. I had heard about the cajon with snares, but not about a string cajon.

Thanks.

[RHD03]

Looks nice RHD. I've always wanted a cajon as well. One of my uni classmates brought one in one day and I ended up playing it more than he did hahaha

You can get a 'cajonport', essentially a kickport for cajons from the same people that make the kickport. Maybe something to look into?

Really? I didn't know that. Very cool, and I'm a big fan of the Kickport so I might just have to look into that!

Thanks for the info!

[RHD03]

Nice looking cajon RHD! Tell me a little about the string cajon. I had heard about the cajon with snares, but not about a string cajon.

Thanks.

PB, from what I understand some of the snare cajons allow you to turn the snares off vs the string or wire cajons. As far as a sound difference I'm just not sure Lol, never got the chance to play them side by side.

But I would think that the sound difference would really depend on the type of wood used as well as the type of wood used on the face plate. You can also loosen the front plate or tighten it until you've reached the desired sound. Probably also depends on where the port is located and the size of the port.

But I'm a total cajon newb so don't quote me on this stuff! Haha

Hope I helped a little

[gonefishin]

Cool toy Red............good to see you posting again. I was wondering where youve been, hope the new homestead is working out good for you guys.

[MartyM]

RHD, thanks for posting pics of your new drum..I just had a thought...my brother in law asked me if I wanted the single pc of 3/4" pine board he bought and never used!...hmmm its about 16 x 60 and you know it might just be the start of a winter project! Ha! hope you enjoy it..now to the bookstore to fine "building a cajon for dummies"

[RHD03]

Cool toy Red............good to see you posting again. I was wondering where youve been, hope the new homestead is working out good for you guys.

Hey GF, good to see you too. I've just been super busy with everything lately. And honestly, at the end of the day I don't even have the energy to jump online for a few minutes...lol, bad I know.

RHD, thanks for posting pics of your new drum..I just had a thought...my brother in law asked me if I wanted the single pc of 3/4" pine board he bought and never used!...hmmm its about 16 x 60 and you know it might just be the start of a winter project! Ha! hope you enjoy it..now to the bookstore to fine "building a cajon for dummies"

Super cool!! Do it!! And of course we want a play by play!

[davewilson]

This vid features the cajon I have.. the Meinl Snare Cajon with the ebony front... I keep in in the living room for impromptu jams:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocL-o8GY02k"]Firework - Katy Perry (Boyce Avenue cover ft. David Choi on violin) on iTunes - YouTube[/ame]

[RHD03]

Very cool Dave, it sounds great.