How to Play a Shaker with Muting Effects

Shakers are one of the most basic musical instruments. They are percussion instruments, often in the shape of an egg, made from beads (or other noise producing materials) inside an empty plastic shell. They produce their sound when shaken. Usually you will just shake the instrument, but in order to give it a different effect you can mute it with your hand. You can switch back and forth between muted and non-muted effects to give your shaker playing even more diversity. Shakers are one of the easiest ways to make music, and they can be a lot of fun.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Select a shaker. There are many varieties available at most music stores, and you should choose one that you feel comfortable playing. You should also choose your shaker based on the sound it produces. Whatever you do, make sure your shaker fits into the palm of your hand comfortably, or else you may not be able to mute it.

2. Play the shaker regularly first, to get a good idea of how your shaker sounds when not muted. Simply take the shaker in your hand and shake it back and forth. You can do this as quickly or as slowly as you like, and should experiment with different styles.

3. Mute the shaker by placing it deep within your palm.

4. Shake the Shaker with it covered up by your palm. This should give you a muted sound, though one that is still quite audible.

5. Play the shaker at various speeds and rhythms in order to gain an understanding on the kinds of music you can make with your muted instrument.

Tips & Warnings

• Switch up playing the shaker regularly and playing it muted, to give a diversity of sound.
• While the shaker may be simple to play, it will take some time to perfect. It takes rhythm and timing, just like with any percussion instrument. So make sure to practice, practice, practice.

Resources

• Video Tutorial on Playing a Shaker with Muting Effects