Online cajón: bass, tone and slap
Tap the centre for bass, the upper edge for tone and the corner for slap. This virtual box uses our own resonance and snare-noise synthesis: an approximation for exploring cajón sounds, rather than a recording of a particular model.
How to use it
- Tap Bass, Tone or Slap. On a computer, use A, S and D. The buttons also work with Tab and Enter.
- Choose a four-beat or three-beat pattern, set 40–200 BPM and select Play pattern. These are original practice examples.
- Play over the example. Stop ends the pattern and scheduled sounds. Switching tabs also stops playback.
Help and explanations
On an acoustic cajón, hand shape and striking position affect the timbre. Three buttons separate those attacks here. Bass is rounder and decays slowly, tone mixes wood and snare, and slap is short and bright.
Where do you strike a cajón?
The centre of the front plate favours bass. Lighter strikes near the upper edge bring out higher tones and snare sound, if fitted. A slap uses brief contact for a sharp attack. Construction and technique affect the result.
Counting the patterns
The four-beat example has eight eighth-note positions: bass, rest, tone, rest, bass, slap, tone, rest. Count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. The three-beat version has six positions: bass, rest, tone, slap, rest, tone. BPM refers to each beat, not each position.
Explore acoustic instruments
The Latin Percussion cajón catalogue illustrates different box and snare designs. This tool does not replace posture and technique practice.
Tips
- Alternate bass and tone slowly before adding slaps.
- On an acoustic cajón, allow your hand to rebound and keep your fingers relaxed.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an installation or microphone?
No. The instrument plays in your browser and generates audio on your device. It does not capture a microphone.