The cajon may look like an empty box but there's more to it than that!     The original South American (possibly Peruvian) cajones were empty, but the mainland Spanish version has strings or metal objects added inside, to make it resonate.

Despite its "foreign" origins, the cajon is now regarded as an essential element of flamenco.

If you're looking for a cajon to accompany flamenco, make sure it's the Spanish version.  Today's South American cajones are often still just a hollow box.

The Cajon on eBay

The cajon is, basically, a box that is used like a drum.  It's played by sitting on top of the box and playing the front face between the legs.  If you're a dancer and you get an opportunity to learn the cajon, it's worthwhile - there's nothing quite like it for getting a handle on the rhythms.

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Photo by Arteunporro