How to Play Maracas in a Straight or Swing Time

The maracas add an extra audio accent to the rhythm line whether they are played in straight time or swing time. Percussion players and singers use maracas to spice up a song with a Latin influence and accentuate the beat. Straight or swing times are enhanced by maracas.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Hold the maracas firmly and pay close attention to the placement of the thumb and index finger. The maracas are played by shaking, and a solid grip must be maintained at all times.

2. Shake the maracas in a more or less vertical movement. The movement should be from side to side in an easy flowing motion. Due to the nature of the maracas, the beat cannot be as precisely defined as with a snare drum or triangle. This is a straight time style for maracas.

3. Accent the backbeat by shaking the maracas in a tomahawk chop motion. This tomahawk motion can more clearly define the accented beat and works well with a dance-like playing style. This tomahawk swinging motion creates a swing time beat, which lends itself to Latin dance tunes.

4. Change directions of the maracas on the beat. The maracas should always move back and forth on the beat, as the end of the motion comes on the beat.

5. Keep time with the maracas. Remember to always change the speed of play to match that of time changes in the song.