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Catalog > Percussion > Small Hand Percussion updated August 3, 2008

Rhythm Bones

      Black Bart's "bone" bones 6-inch bones, one pair -- $40.00
      Made in the USA. Tied together with leather thong.

      Black Bart's Bones have been in short supply, please contact us for availability

      Whamdiddle -- hardwood bones in various woods. Made in the USA.

      Walnut or maple, one pair $17.50

      Exotic hardwoods, one pair $25.00 & up

Claves from Mexico

      Clave (pronounced "klah-veh") means "key." Cup your palm, balancing one clave, strike it with the other. Surprisingly loud!

      Rosewood, one pair -- $12.70

Jawharps

A folk instrument of uncertain age and origin, already well known during the European Middle Ages. The instrument is widespread throughout the world in various forms. It has been known in Western Europe probably since Gallo-Roman times. The dimension of the vibrating tongue determines the pitch of the fundamental note.
Article: How to Play the Jaw Harp

    Whitlow jaw harp

Whitlow TM professionally-tuned jawharps
Made by Robbie Clement for Tomorrow River Music of Madison, Wisconsin.

"It Don't Mean a Thang if it Ain't Got That Twang" TM.

Handmade and tuned, lifetime guarantee. The Whitlow Jawharp was selected as the world's finest jawharp at the International Jew's Harp Congress in Iowa City, Iowa based on sound quality, playability and appearance. Whitlow Jawharps are the instrument of choice among many of the world's top players including John McCutcheon, Mike Seeger, David Holt and Grandpa Jones.

Whitlow Jawharps are hand-crafted from the finest materials following the method invented by Fred Whitlow. Each harp is carefully tuned to standard pitch, enabling it to be played with other in-tune instruments. Whitlow Jawharps are available in all 12 keys and come with a no-gimmick lifetime guarantee to the original owner.

Whitlow Jawharp TM in protective plastic display box -- $24.00
Availability of Whitlow Jaw Harps has been irregular lately. Please contact us for current availability.

Ozark Jawharp: Inexpensive factory-made metal jawharps. -- $5.50

Maracas

      Gourd maracas
      These are multicolored gourd maracas from Costa Rica. Colors vary, please let us choose for you. (photo)

      One pair -- $12.00

      Special! Six pairs -- $50.00 Great for parties!

    Spoons

      Trophy Musical Spoons -- two metal spoons with a plastic handle -- $8.50

Sound Effects

Spring Drums (Thunder Tubes)

      Remo Spring Drums (also known as Thunder Tubes) add a unique and exciting effect to your sound effect arsenal. Shake the drum, and the action of the spring produces a booming thunder effect. Cup your hand over the open end or hole and change the pitch.

      Small Angled Spring Drum, lightning graphic (7 x 2.5 inches) -- $15.95

      Medium Angled Spring Drum, lightning graphic (10 x 4 inches) -- $26.77

      Large Angled Spring Drum, blue finish (16 x 7 inches) -- $61.85

      Small Double Head Spring Drum, blue finish (5 x 5 inches) -- $31.25

      Large Double Head Spring Drum, blue finish (16 x 7 inches) -- $60.50

Slapsticks

      2 wooden slats on a handle, upper slat sprung and hinged. Used in slapstick comedy to simulate the sound of someone being hit. 18 inches long.
        $20.00

Vibra-Slap

      Very popular sound effect - used in movie soundtracks and for special effects, like the sound of bones rattling. The sound is supposed to be like an old instrument called the "jawbone."
        $40.80

Vibra-tone

      Hollow metal tube with hole a quarter of the way up. When hole is covered with thumb, a fundamental tone is produced. As the thumb is pulled away from the hole, the timbre changes. Produces a liquid "wah-wah" sound.
        Standard, in silver -- $30.95
        Large, ruby-colored -- $34.95

Cuica

Drum-shaped shell with skin head. Attached to the head on the inside of the shell is a long narrow narrow wooden rod. To play the cuica, you rub a rosined cloth or your fingers up and down the rod to make a barking or squeaking sound. The skinhead and shell amplify the sound.

Remo Cuica

5-inch x 5-inch -- $48.45
5-inch x 8-inch -- $57.80
12-inch x 10-inch (tunable) -- $164.90
Spare cuica sticks available separately -- $4.00 Quantity:
rainstick

Rainstick

    Made in Chile. Hollow cactus stick filled with small pebbles that sound like rain when tipped. A soothing, meditative sound.
      Small Cactus Rainstick (20 inches long) -- $20.40
      Large Cactus Rainstick (39 inches long) -- $27.60

    Other rainsticks are occasionally available, please contact us.

Shekeres

Dried, hollowed gourds covered with a string web, laced with seeds, beads or shells. The stem portion of the gourd forms a hand grip. Found all over West Africa. Ours are made in Ghana, with multicolored plastic beads.

      Small -- $15.00
      Medium -- $20.00
      Large -- $25.00

      Other Shekeres occasionally available -- please contact us.

Frogs

    frog at play Hard to resist! These chunky, hand-carved wooden frogs have a cool look and a BIG sound. Simply run the wooden dowel along the ridged back and you'd swear you were in the woods on a summer night. Kids love these! Made in Thailand. We also have Crickets. (see below)
      Peeper: Tiny! 2 inches long, 2 inches high -- $7.50

      Small: 3 inches long, 2 inches high -- $9.50
      Medium: 4 inches long, 2.5 inches high -- $14.50
      Large: 5 inches long, 3 inches high -- $18.00
      Extra Large: 7-8 inches long, 3.5 inches high -- $23.00
      With a loud, deep call!
      Jumbo: 10 inches long, 6.5 inches high -- $65.00
      A very impressive bullfrog croak!
cricket... reep reep

Crickets

    Hand-carved in Thailand, these crickets make a strikingly realistic sound when you run the wooden dowel along their ridged wings. You just have to try these. Great for kids -- even the grown-up kind!

      Medium: 6 inches long, 2.5 inches high -- $12.00

      Large: 8 inches long, 2.5 inches high -- $15.00

Miscellaneous rattles

      Egg Shakers: egg-shaped hand rattles painted in various colors. Plastic exterior. Traditional Eggs in matte pastel colors plus black; translucent colors, or Egg "Nuggets" in deep iridescent jewel tones. Usually played in pairs.
        $2.50 each egg Quantity:
      Veggie and Fruit Shakers: realistically-sized, shaped and colored to look like real fruits and vegetables. Large: banana, lemon, orange, apple, plum, pear, peach, tomato, green pepper, squash, potato, zucchini. Small: apple, peach, plum.

        $6.00 small fruit Quantity:
        $7.00 large fruit Quantity:
        $7.00 vegetables Quantity:
      Telavi: a fascinating shaker-type instrument from Ghana, made with two round seed pods strung together. The player can create complex rhythmic patterns by holding one seed pod in one hand and flipping the other pod across the back of the hand -- you have to see it!
      $6.00
      Chachas rattle: goat hooves strung together. Made in Bolivia. -- $10.00
      Caixixi: basket rattle with handle, from West Africa or Brazil. Colors and patterns vary, please let us choose one for you.

        Small -- $6.00

        Large -- $12.00

Miscellaneous African instruments

    Assorted fork rattles, dancers rattles and anklebells, seed pod rattles, spider eggcase rattles, cowbells, stick drums, agogo bells, shakers and many more. Got an unusual request? Let us know what you need.