A Cajon is a box-like instrument constructed from hardwood, and it is comfortably made so that the percussionists sit on it while playing. A Cajon is a beautiful musical instrument that can be played comfortably by sitting on the top surface.
Table of Contents
1. How Does Clapbox Work?
The Clapbox works when you hit the face of the Cajon, the wood used in making the Clapbox Cajon will resonate to produce a good quality tone. Additionally, it is said that other woods like beech & birch tend to produce the strongest bass tone. Each wood has different characteristics and sounds, that make the Cajons more attractive.
2. Is Clapbox Easy To Learn?
Many people believe that it is very difficult to learn to play Clapbox, but they don’t have a certain eagerness to know it; therefore, they often rely on other people to teach them.
Practicing daily assists you to learn and understand clap box easily and later mastering what you are learning.
Many people also believe that learning something on their own it’s pretty difficult. They often want guidance, who can teach them well, but it is not true. It eventually becomes effortless to learn something on their own. And when it comes to learning as a Clapbox Cajon, it only works for those with a good sense of music and a strong commitment to practice.
Generally, people don’t know whether the techniques they are using are correct or not; therefore, they mostly prefer to use some guidance or tutorials about learning to play an instrument. In addition, every person needs to keep in mind that they should not run very fast while learning any instruments because, in the end, you will not be satisfied with the result anymore.
3. How Do You Sit On A Cajon?
Cajon can be played in various styles, anyone can play it differently, but the easiest and common way to learn to play it is by sitting on top of it and appearing over the front to Smack the face. However, some percussionists sit behind the Cajon on a chair and then straddle it while performing with their upper body.
You should sit on the Cajon very relaxed and comfortable, but it is always recommended to sit with a pretty straight back. You may be required to lean forward occasionally in a way to access other parts of the Cajon.
Both feet should rest flat on the floor. The appropriate amount of bending at right angles usually depends on the length of your legs. The knees should be appropriately spread to allow access to the front of the Cajon. An angle of between 90 degrees and 120 degrees only provides access to the tapa face along with the sides of click strokes.
At last, the buttocks must be pretty much in line with the rear face of the Cajon. Avoid sitting too far forward or too far back as it can cause back pain issues.
4. How Much Weight Can A Cajon Hold?
A Cajon can handle as much weight as a regular chair or a regular stool. Usually, a standard computer chair can hold about 250 pounds or more. So a Cajon can hold wait just like a normal chair can hold; therefore, you don’t need to worry about the weight a Cajon can hold.
Cajons are usually built to be very comfortable and stable to handle the weight. You can sit safely on the Cajon as you sit on a regular chair without any worries.
A Cajon is a portable drum built to produce a pleasant quality sound. It has gained a lot of popularity in the last few years as it is the best alternative of small drums for acoustic covers for adults.
Strength Of A Cajon
No doubt, Cajons are built to be comfortable or stable; even most modern cajons are made using wood layered together for additional strength.
Generally, the Cajons are made of more exotic woods like Mahogany or rosewood. The Exotic Woods is used for making the cajons that tend to be stronger and produce sounds of distinct characteristics. For instance, Indian rosewood has a crushing strength of 8660 lb/in 2, which indicates it can endure about 8,660 pounds per square foot.
Choosing A Cajon
No matter if you are larger or average, you can still play most of the cajons. Good cajons allow you to sit comfortably on a stool or a chair.
5. What Is Inside Clapbox?
The Clapbox is made out of Oakwood Tapa and the MDF body. It has three sets of internal snare wires that deliver the classic Cajon sound. The Cajon consists of a fantastic bass, and each Cajon goes with a straight sound quality that gives a better experience of a full-fledged portable drum kit.
6. What Is A Cajon Box?
A Cajon is a box-like instrument made of hardwood with an extra layer of plywood that is nailed into the front side. It is built very comfortably so that the percussionist sits on it and uses their fingertips and palms to create a pleasant sound.
Usually, this instrument is 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide. The front striking surface, also known as a face or a topper, determines the tone emitted.
You can hit the Cajon anywhere on its face to produce a good quality sound. A circular sound hole is present on the Cajon, which is cut out one of the sides, and it is always behind you. Additionally, the size and weight of the Cajon make it a comfortable instrument so that it can be played easily, even if it can travel spontaneously.
7. How Much Do Cajon Drums Cost?
Cajons are the most straightforward instruments you’ll ever see, and it is very comfortable and easy to play. It comes in a compact design and better playability, making it sound stand out effectively. The cost of the cajons starts from Rs. 3000 in India and reaches up to Rs. 30,000 depending on their feature and wood material.
8. How Does A Cajon Work?
A Cajon is a box-like instrument that usually works when the percussionist sits on it and uses their hands, palms, and fingertips in a way to create good quality sound.
A circular hole is cut out the sides of the Cajons where the sounds escape.
9. Can You Use Drumsticks On A Cajon?
A drumstick can also be used on a Cajon combined with the brushes and the hands to produce a good quality sound. You can create a creative sound by using drumsticks to beat the Cajon. Using the drum sticks on the Cajon is a very convenient way to travel with Cajon, as the drumstick can be kept in the saddle pocket for easy reach.
10. Can You Tune A Cajon?
Yes, a Cajon can be tuned. Simply tune the strings tighter for tighter to get the cleaner sound and fast response. You can also loosen them for more snare sound and sustain higher frequencies.
Unlike the guitar or piano, tuning the strings tighter or looser creates more or less snare effects. Tuning a Cajon can produce a good sound. Another thing you can do is to take certain parts of the strings against the inside of the front of the Cajon.
This could be very useful, especially if you feel tired and get a buzzing sound. You could also put it all inside the Cajons to reduce the snare sounds that come from the hollow and buzzing surface.
11. Can You Play A Cajon With Sticks?
The heck stick makes it easier for the percussionists to blend the output sounds; it also makes the cajons more applicable and versatile like any other drum. Additionally, a Cajon, which is fitted with the heck sticks, can also be used to achieve the grooves heard.
In other words, if the Cajon is played with sticks, it is usually used to create a special sound along with other musical instruments. The Cajon heck stick was introduced a long time ago, and its feature is modified and improved.
You can also attach the heck sticks to any part of the Cajon. However, using these sticks requires some sort of listening skills to monitor the sound carefully and then strike the right notes to produce a more effective sound.
12. How Can I Make My Cajon Sound Better?
In a way to make your Cajon sound better. You can try to lose the topmost screw on each corner of the cajons whose tapa is attached using screws. So, losing the crew on each corner will create a tiny space between the core-shell and the tapa of the Cajon. Therefore, when you hit the tapa, it will hit the shell and thus produce a better tone.
These techniques assist you in making a Cajon sound better. You can also fix the bass and slap tones to produce a good quality sound.
Solution 1: Fix The Bass Tone
The compression and the expansion of the Cajons lead to a deeper sound and a more powerful sound. So if your Cajon is not producing a good quality sound, you need to fix the bass tone as it helps control the resonance of Cajon and thereby reduces the unwanted boominess. This will make the Cajon sounds better.
Solution 2: Fixing The Slap Tone
Fixing the slap tone assists you in having a clear, crisp sound that can significantly enhance the tone of the Cajons.
13. Which Cajon Is Best For Beginners?
As a beginner-level Cajon player, you will look for a Cajon that is versatile and carries great value.
Clapbox Cajon CB11 -Black, Oak Wood (H:50 W:30 L:30) is one of the best Cajon for beginners.
Final Thoughts
The best way to play Cajon is to play the various surfaces with different intensities and play in different places like the middle, side, and top.
Moreover, tuning the string of the Cajon assists you in producing a good sound, and it will be very useful primarily if the Cajon produces a buzzing sound; tuning the strings will help reduce the Snare sound. Consequently, playing Cajon with the help of the heck stick allows it to produce a more applicable and versatile sound.