How to Play Maracas in Accent Beats

The soft tones of the maracas provide a mild accent to songs with Latin rhythms. The maracas can be used to set the accent beat in place of louder percussion instruments such as the snare drum or cymbals. The maracas accented beats are the focal points of the song's rhythm.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Hold the maracas firmly but allow for flexibility of the wrist. The maracas need to rock slightly while playing but must be grasped securely to avoid throwing them.

2. Play a percussion line in straight time. Set the beat so that each maracas note is given the exact same emphasis.

3. Vary the emphasis of the accent note by shaking the maraca with more force on that note. Accent the first note in a four note bar. This is the simplest accented rhythm to emphasize.

4. Shake the maraca hard to bring the accent to the forefront in the rhythm. Emphasize the accentuating note by shaking the maracas twice as vigorously.

5. Rotate the wrist as you play the maracas. It is the natural motion of the hand and adds a spin to the beads. This rotation adds a slight revolving undertone to the accent beat.