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Box Shaker Playing Techniques


With at least 100 distinct rhythmic techniques and articulations, NAL Box Shakers invite experimentation! Watch the videos below for an introduction to our Box Shakers and Box Shaker playing techniques.
Below is a "short list" of the many ways you can play one or two box shakers. The possibilities are immense!
Ready to try them out yourself?
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Videos:

Introduction to Box Shakers
Muting and Un-Muting
Two-Box Rhythms
Tambourine-Style

 

Introduction to Box Shakers

 

Muting and Un-Muting

Two-Box Rhythms

Tambourine-Style

Spoon Playing

Natural Acoustics Lab Box Shaker Techniques
You can do A LOT with a single shaker!

- Side Panel Front to Back
- Faceplate Front to Back
- Up & Down
- Side Panel Front to Back / Accent Faceplate on down beat
- Side Panel Front to Back / Accent on up beat
- Tremolo - wrist twist
- Tremolo - side walls
- Tremolo - faceplates
- Tremolo - wrist twist with crescendo
- Tremelo - wrist twist with mute/un-mute by palm
- Tremolo - side walls with crescendo
- Tremolo - faceplates with crescendo
- Mute and un-mute - Faceplates front-to-back bottom grip with finger “damper’
- Mute and un-mute - Faceplates front-to-back top grip with finger “damper”
- Mute and un-mute - Faceplate up/down using palm as “damper”
- Two handed mute and un-mute
- 6/8 rhythmic pattern (Also use mute / un-mute accents)
- Hammering the faceplate with closed fist
- Tambourine two hand pattern
- Tambouring triplet using second hand strike on up beat
- Spoon style roll
- Two handed drumming
- Vertical circular pattern (up to four rhythmic patterns are possible)
- Horizontal circular pattern (using side walls)
- Figure eight pattern (up to four patterns are possible)
- Windshield washer
- Tremolo with “zip”
- Extremely slow, one shot accents
- Dead stop when finishing a pattern
- Shaker and clave combination (requires small wooden mallet)
AND many, many more!

Natural Acoustics Lab Box Shaker Techniques
Playing two shakers - the possibilities are IMMENSE!

- Unison Side Panels Front to Back
- Unison Faceplate Front to Back
- Unison Side Panels Up & Down
- Unison Faceplate Up & Down
- Alternating Side Panels Front to Back
- Alternating Faceplate Front to Back
- Alternating Side Panels Up & Down
- Alternating Faceplate Up & Down
 - Unison Side Panels Front to Back / Accent Faceplate on down beat with one hand
- Alternating Side Panels Front to Back / Accent Faceplate on down beat with one hand
- Unison Side Panels / Accent Faceplate on up beat with one hand
- Alternating Side Panels / Accent Faceplate on up beat with one hand
- Tremolo - Two Handed Using Wrist Twist
- Tremolo - Two Handed Using Side Panels
- Tremolo - Two Handed Using Face Plates
- Tremolo - Two Handed Wrist Twist Crescendo
- Tremolo - Two Handed Side Panel Crescendo
- Tremolo - Two Handed Face Plate Crescendo
- Mute and un-mute - Unison Face Plate Front to Back Bottom Grip with Finger “Damper”
- Mute and un-mute - Unison Face Plate Front to Back Top Grip with Finger “Damper”
- Mute and un-mute - Unison Face Plate Up & Down with Palm “Damper”
- Mute and un-mute - Alternating Face Plate Front to Back Bottom Grip with Finger “Damper”
- Mute and un-mute - Alternating Face Plate Front to Back Top Grip with Finger “Damper”
- Mute and un-mute - Alternating Face Plate Up & Down with Palm “Damper”
- Cat’s Paw Triplet (Alternating)
- Unison Faceplate / Windshield Wiper Motion
- Alternating Faceplate / Windshield Wiper Motion
- One Hand Up & Down / One Hand Windshield Wiper
- One Hand Up & Down / One Hand Double Time Front to Back
- Opposing L/R Circular Motion on Side Panels (Parallel to Floor)
- Alternating Side Panels / Vertical Orientation / One Hand Up & Down / One Hand  Vertical Circles
- Alternating Side Panels / Vertical Orientation / One Hand Up & Down / One Hand Horizontal Circles
- Alternating Faceplates / Vertical Orientation / One Hand Up & Down / One Hand Vertical Circles
- Alternating Faceplates / Vertical Orientation / One Hand Up & Down / One Hand Horizontal Circles
- Unison Fast Tremelo with Deceleration
- Tremolo with “ZIP” Downwards
- Extremely slow, Single Shot Accents
- Dead stop when finishing a pattern
- Alternating Fast Triplets - Castanet Style
- Alternating Down “Flicking” of Both Hands (No Recoil)
- Play shakers of different sizes (tonal variance)

MANY MORE Sounds can be created by muting and un-muting during the playing of these patterns. Playing half-time or double-time will also change the sound characteristics of the instruments.