How to Play 16th Notes on Maracas

The maracas are an easy-to-learn percussion instrument commonly used in Latin music. While maracas come in a variety of materials, from plastic to styled wood, rhythm techniques are the same. Sixteenth notes, also called a roll, are fast notes played with one or both maracas. Sixteenth notes are quicker and harder to play, but if you master the basic maraca techniques you can learn how to roll.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Maracas
• Metronome

1. Hold the maracas at about shoulder height angled so that the top is slightly away from your body. Practice the basic shaking motion which starts from your forearm and moves through your wrist and hand.

2. Keep your wrist very loose for sixteenth notes. Hold the maracas loosely in your hand as well, not allowing your grip to become too tense and inhibit the speed of your motion.

3. Use a single maraca to play sixteenth notes at first. Count to four and time yourself. Try to fit 4 shakes into a single second for a good learning speed for sixteenth notes. If you have a metronome, speed it up gradually and continue to practice subdividing the beat into four.

4. Make the sixteenth note technique easier by adding the second maraca. You can shake each maraca twice per beat, alternating maracas, to still fit 4 shakes in per beat and play sixteenth notes. You can also play sixteenth notes with both to simply make the notes louder and fuller.

5. Use sixteenth notes either within the rhythm, like you have practiced, or for effect. If you just want to use the roll to make a rattle sound and don't need it to fit, you don't necessarily need to count it out or worry about the beat. Just stay on track with the rhythm and know when you need to get back in to the set beat.