Meinl's Small Caxixi is a basket shaker of African origin, and adds a worldly flavor to any piece of music you use it for! The bottom of the basket is made of hard leather, producing a brighter and more articulate tone than the wicker sides.
Playing caxixi effectively requires a unique 'shake and twist' technique that causes the beads inside to smack against the different surfaces at precise moments. Once you've got it down, you can create clearly enunciated 6/8, 5/8, and 7/8 rhythms (and more). You can also play it like a normal shaker for a soft effect.
If you play two caxixi at the same time and master the ability to twist each one independently, you can create some truly complex polyrhythms that will blow people's minds.
