Claves

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Claves

Classification	Hand percussion
Playing range
Single note

Claves are a percussion instrument (idiophone), consisting of a pair of short (about 20-30 cm), thick dowels. Traditionally they were made of wood, typically rosewood, ebony or grenadilla. Nowadays they are also made of fibreglass or plastics due to the greater durability of these materials. When struck they produce a bright clicking noise. Claves are sometimes hollow and carved in the middle to amplify the sound. The word "clave" is pronounced /ˈklɑːveɪ/ in the Spanish style (as in "Ave Maria"), though some American musicians pronounce it /ˈkleɪv/, rhyming with 'gave.

	Claves Clave pattern
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Claves are very important in Afro-Cuban music, such as the Son and Guaguancó. They are often used to play a repeating rhythmic figure throughout a piece, known as the clave, of which there are several different variations, each used for different styles of music.

Steve Reich's Music for Pieces of Wood is written for five pairs of claves.

Technique

Playing a pair of claves

The basic principle when playing claves is to allow at least one of them to resonate. The usual technique is to hold one lightly with the thumb and fingertips of the non-dominant hand, with the palm up. This forms the hand into a resonating chamber for the clave. Holding the clave on top of finger nails makes the sound more clear. The other is held by the dominant hand at one end with a firmer grip, much like how one normally holds a drumstick. With the end of this clave, the player strikes the resting clave in the center.

See also

• Palitos

External links

• Playing and singing with claves

Percussion portal