What is a Caxixi?

A caxixi is a small handheld percussion instrument from Brazil, commonly used as a shaker. It is often played alongside instruments like the berimbau in traditional Afro-Brazilian music.

The caxixi is typically made from a woven basket filled with seeds, beads, or small shells, with a flat base often made of gourd. When shaken, the contents strike both the woven sides and the hard base, producing a distinctive, crisp rattling sound.

Players can vary the sound by changing how the instrument is moved. Shaking it so the contents hit the basket creates a softer sound, while striking the base produces a sharper, more accented tone.

The caxixi is widely used in Brazilian musical styles such as capoeira and other traditional forms, where it helps add rhythmic texture and groove.

Today, the caxixi is also used in world music and modern recordings, where its organic shaker sound adds subtle rhythmic detail to a wide range of musical styles.