Rattles

A rattle is a struck-indirectly idiophone commonly found in Africa.  There are a wide variety of types, materials, and methods of playing.  The rattle is considered a type of percussion instrument and described in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system as a shaken idiophone.

Distinct types of rattles may include the following: 

Calabash rattles (some netted with seeds, nuts, etc. on the outside, while others contain objects inside); Spherical rattles (smaller seed pod with handle inserts); Box rattles; Horn rattles, and Basket rattles, Recycled tin cans also serve as rattles for some.  These are all rattles that in some way are held with the hand in order to play them or create rhythm.  Other rattles that are worn such as leg and wrist rattles, can be found in the ‘Rattles, Adornment’ section on this website.