How to Make Castanets With Seashells

Make a pair of practice castanets out of clam shells.

Make a pair of clam shell castanets to play along with traditional Spanish music, or to practice Flamenco dancing. Castanets are traditionally made from hard woods, are carved into the shapes of clam shells and tied together with cotton strings. Even though real castanets are made from wood and not seashells, you can still use them to practice. These instruments are held in the hands and played by Flamenco dancers to add more rhythm to the music.

Things You'll Need

• Nylon rope
• Scissors
• Lighter
• 4 seashells
• Epoxy adhesive

Instructions

1. Cut two pieces of 1/8-inch thick nylon rope to 2-inches long. Hold the flame of a lighter to the ends of the rope for three seconds to melt the ends a little, so they won't fray as you work.

2. Place two large clam shells, about 2-1/2-inches wide at the widest part, on a table in front of you with the insides facing up and the two narrower ends facing each other.

3. Glue one end of one of the pieces of rope to the inside edge of the narrow end of one of the clam shells with epoxy adhesive. Glue the other end of the rope to the same spot on the other shell. Wait 24 hours for the epoxy to dry all the way.

4. Set two smaller clam shells, between 1-1/2- to 2-inches wide at the widest point, in front of you with the narrow ends facing each other.

5. Glue the other piece of nylon rope to the inside edge of the narrow ends, like you did with the larger pair.

6. Wait 24 hours before wrapping the connecting ropes of the shells around your thumbs and playing your shell castanets.

References

• Neohumanism: Castanets