Shaker (musical instrument)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

A shaker is a simple percussion instrument used to create rhythm. It makes sound when you shake it back and forth, but many can also be struck for a stronger beat. In rock and other pop music, shakers help keep a steady rhythm, sometimes taking the place of a ride cymbal. A shaker is usually a hollow container partly filled with small loose objects like beans or seeds; the rattling sound comes from the objects hitting each other and the inside of the container. Similar instruments include rainsticks, caxixi, and egg shakers.