Photo by Scott Pickering

Friday, September 24, 2010

Chajchas

What are those things?

Really?


A staple of Andean folk music, the chajchas consist of goat hooves sewn to cloth loops. The chajchas produce a warm, earthy, clattering rattle (to my ear). The loops are traditionally worn around the wrist (like bracelets) so that a player can also play a bombo (drum) and chajchas together. I tape a couple of loops together, grasp the whole clump, and play downbeats with a quick downward flick of the wrist.

                     Some chajchas ideas:

  • When the drumset is laying down an ethno-groove on the toms, try bringing out the chajchas on some simple downbeats.
  • Play the backbeat (sparingly).
  • Shake the hooves for an ethereal effect.

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