Also known as shakers or chac chac, maracas are traditional percussion instruments that originated in South America. They typically consist of a hollow body filled with balls or sand. By shaking them, they produce rhythmic sounds that are often used in Latin American music, but also in many other musical styles such as pop or jazz.
For an authentic sound and a long life, Sela maracas combine traditional craftsmanship with modern materials. The head is made of robust plastic with a diameter of 90 mm, while the handle is made of oak wood. Sela maracas sit very comfortably in the hand and can be played for long periods without tiring. The head of the maracas is filled with fine metal sand, which ensures an articulate and assertive sound. Maracas are almost always played in pairs and are shaken rhythmically or struck with the fingertips in various ways. This creates the characteristic pattering sound of the instrument. A rarer method of playing is to strike only one rattle in the open palm of the other hand.
Sela maracas are aimed at percussionists and musicians of all levels of experience and are suitable for use in music schools as well as in the studio or on stage. They are particularly recommended for rhythmic accompaniment in salsa bands, for accentuation in pop music or for creating atmospheric textures in world music ensembles and can be excellently combined with a variety of other instruments such as congas, bongos or guitars.
