About Rain Sticks

Series Summary

Anyone who says that sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain. When the skies open up to pour water on the earth, we are cleansed and rejuvenated. Nothing can compare to rainy days. For many of us, the sound of the rain brings tranquility into our hectic life. There is something so enchanting in the sound and smell of rain. While we may not be able to control the rain, there is a way to replicate the sound. A rain stick, made from a hollow tube with beans, can simulate the sound of rain falling. The rain stick is thought to be invented by natives in South America. Believed to bring rainstorms, the rain stick was traditionally carved out of a dried cactus stems. Today, children and adults are memorized by this percussion instrument.

In this free video series, learn how to play the rain stick. Our expert, Gregg Tauriello, tells you all about rain sticks. Learn about different sizes and styles. Also, learn how to play the instrument with music. If you want to get creative with your rain stick, learn how to play it in different ways. Gregg even shows you how to play two rain sticks at once. So, what are you waiting for? Learn how to bring the sound of rain into your music today!

Video Transcript

"I've owned and operated many recording studios in my time. This is a very interesting instrument. It's actually a percussion instrument. It adds a really nice sound to certain music. This Rain stick is made with cactus. It's a piece of cactus dried out. After it's dried the manufacturer breaks off the needle of the cactus, turns it around, and sticks it back into the body. Fills it up with beads, rice, beans, stones, and then when it's tipped to one side or the other, produces a nice gentle sound. There are many factors that determine the tone, quality of the Rain stick. The size of the wood, the material that the flakes or beans are made out of inside, the size of the spines that go into it, and then, how it's played."