How to Make Wood Castanets

Use wooden spoons to make a set of castanets.

Make a set of castanets to play while you dance flamenco, or just to play as a percussion instrument in Spanish style music. Castanets are shaped like a pair of clam shells or chestnut shells and are traditionally made of hard wood. They also come in sets with one larger than the other, held in the left hand. The smaller pair is held in the right hand and makes a higher clicking noise than the other pair. Wrap the string around your thumb, hold them together in you palms and move your fingers to click them together.

Things You'll Need

• Wooden spoons
• Hand saw
• Sanding block
• Power drill
• 1/8-inch drill bit
• String
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Cut the handles off of two 2-inch-wide wooden spoons and two 1 1/2-inch wide wooden spoons with a hand saw and leave about 1/2 inch left of the handle. Sand the rough-cut edges of the spoons with a smooth grit sanding block.

2. Drill a hole into the 1/2-inch left on the handles of each spoon with a 1/8-inch thick drill bit on a powder drill.

3. Measure and cut two pieces of cotton string to 3 inches long. Feed one end of one of the strings through the holes of the two big spoons. Tie a double overhand knot in each end of the string to keep the spoons on the string. Do the same with the smaller pair of spoons.

References

• Neohumanism: Castanets