Multiple possible origins: best known is the Mapuche design; similar instruments in Southeast Asia, Africa and Australia
Related instruments
Hosho, Maracas, Vibraslap
A rainstick is a long, hollow tube partially filled with small pebbles, rice, dried beans, or other hard granular matter that has small pins or thorns arranged helically on its inside surface.[1] When the stick is upended, the pebbles fall to the other end of the tube, bouncing off the internal protrusions to create a sound reminiscent of falling rain.[2] The rainstick is believed to have been invented by the Mapuche and was played in the belief it could bring about rainstorms. It was also found on the Chilean coasts, though it is not certain if it was made by the Incas. Rainsticks are usually made from any of several species of cactus such as Eulychnia acida and Echinopsis pachanoi. The cacti, which are hollow, are dried in the sun. The spines are removed, then driven into the cactus like nails. Pebbles or other small objects are placed inside the rainstick, and the ends are sealed. A sound like falling water is made when the rainstick has its direction changed to a vertical position.
Similar instruments can also be found in Southeast Asia, Australia and Africa, where it is often made using bamboo rather than dried cactus.
Rainsticks may also be made with common household materials like paper towel rolls instead of cactus, and nails or toothpicks instead of thorns, and they are often sold to tourists visiting parts of Latin America and also the Southwestern United States (which has a history of Spanish and Mexican cultural influence).
^Laurence Libin, ed. (2014). "Rainstick". The Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments (2nd ed.). New York City: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-974339-1. OCLC 844074253. OL 28520286M. Wikidata Q124369427.
^Holland, James (2003). Practical Percussion: A Guide to the Instruments and Their Sources. Lanham, Maryland, US: Scarecrow Press. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-8108-5658-5.
A rainstick is a long, hollow tube partially filled with small pebbles, rice, dried beans, or other hard granular matter that has small pins or thorns...
are then announced to be departing shortly. Willa gifts Bill with her rainstick, and Bill gives Willa an old card, saying that he will write his number...
percussion instruments with indefinite pitch: Bass drum Castanets Cymbals Rainstick Slapstick or whip Snare drum Tamtam Tom-tom It is difficult to define...
sound, which some people claim sounds more like a rattlesnake's tail or a rainstick. This is their primary method of warding off potentially insectivorous...
Social Scene and wishes to be a part of the band (offering to play the rainstick or the triangle). On air, Stroumboulopoulos called band member Kevin Drew...
Roast the Toast" 2014 Suburgatory Older Kid Episode: "Blame It on the Rainstick" 2014 Bones Scotty Episode: "The Money Maker on the Merry-Go-Round" 2016...
Quadrangularis Reversum United States Pitched 111.212 Idiophone Quintephone Rainstick Mexico Unpitched 112.13 Idiophone Subclassed as a combination Shaken Idiophone...
and Youssou N'Dour Peter Gabriel – lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards, rainstick Paula Cole – additional vocals; co-lead vocals on "Shaking The Tree",...
been mentioned in his album credits several times, including playing the rainstick on "Through the Veil" on The Winding Path, and for catering several recording...
can be used in Buddhist meditation. Water drum Hydraulophone Geophone Rainstick Klöwer, Töm (1997). The joy of drumming: drums & percussion instruments...
which are stored in a small tin. She also performs at concerts using a rainstick, which she had autographed by Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk, two actors...
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