Tips and information to keep in mind when buying a caixa: size, construction... All you should know before buy your instrument.
Caixa with snare wires
This type of caixa is an allrounder instrument and fits for (almost) all brazilian grooves.
Formerly mainly used in Rios sambaschools it is nowadays played in various drumming formations. Sambareggae, Maracatu, Ilâ Aiyâ or Timbalada grooves get their dense sound more or less from caixas with snare wires. This caixa (or the snare) is first choice for groups who feel at home in different styles of brazilian music.
Formerly mainly used in Rios sambaschools it is nowadays played in various drumming formations. Sambareggae, Maracatu, Ilâ Aiyâ or Timbalada grooves get their dense sound more or less from caixas with snare wires. This caixa (or the snare) is first choice for groups who feel at home in different styles of brazilian music.
Which size?
The most common are 14" caixas, but 12" instruments are also very popular. Some manufacturers offer 10" sizes for kids.
Drumset snare
The drumset snare is louder than the brazilian caixa. This may be an advantage when playing with
only one caixa in a larger line-up. The snare sound differs considerably depending on the size, material of the shell and especially the tuning of the instrument. Drumset snares are ( similar to caixa with snare wires ) true allrounders and fit to quite a lot of the brazilian drumming styles.
Due to the more bulky shell and tuning system this snare is heavier than a caixa and can be more comfortably played with a legrest e.g. as used in marching bands. Construction
Snares are the more sophisticated relatives of the tradtional caixas. With help of a snare switch the contact between snare wires and resonance head can be interrupted. Playing and resonance head can be tuned individually. This enables to create a more defined tuning which however requires quite a bit of experience.
Selected stores sell a great variety of different snares,- Kalango offers only a few models that seem suitable and fair priced.
Selected stores sell a great variety of different snares,- Kalango offers only a few models that seem suitable and fair priced.
Caixa with snare strings
In Batucada (Rio Samba) caixas with snare strings are commonly used. The function of strings is to produce short and fat sounding beats. The caixa is played on the head over which the strings have been pulled tight. Drumhead and resonance head are equally thick and are tuned with end-to-end tuning rods. Several caixas played together sounds really great!Which size?
- 12'' x 17cm (Malacacheta / Caixa de Guerra)
This size is the most common. It fits for playing on the crook of your arm (em cima) as well as on your hip or in front of your stomach.
Full sound!
This size is the most common. It fits for playing on the crook of your arm (em cima) as well as on your hip or in front of your stomach.
Full sound!
- 12''x 10cm (Tarol)
This size is suitable for the playing position "em cima". You cannot play this caixa with a shoulder strap! A hip strap can be used when holding the stick in the left hand (traditional grip).
Percussive sharp sound!
This size is suitable for the playing position "em cima". You cannot play this caixa with a shoulder strap! A hip strap can be used when holding the stick in the left hand (traditional grip).
Percussive sharp sound!
- 14'' Caixa
For batucada the caixa with snare strings is very uncommon. It is only characteristic for the samba school Imperio Serrano. In order to develope better its full sound this caixa is not tuned as high as a 12" instrument.
For batucada the caixa with snare strings is very uncommon. It is only characteristic for the samba school Imperio Serrano. In order to develope better its full sound this caixa is not tuned as high as a 12" instrument.
Aluminium or galvanized steelplate?
- Aluminium
Aluminium weighs less and hardly oxidizes. The sound is more metallic.
Aluminium weighs less and hardly oxidizes. The sound is more metallic.
- Galvanized steelplate
The galvanized surface of steelplate looses its original sheen very fast and becomes matt. The weight of the shell can be annoying when playing "em cima", but in spite of this many Sambistas favor this caixa because of the typical, very dry sound. It is also frequently played in the samba schools because of its lower price.
The galvanized surface of steelplate looses its original sheen very fast and becomes matt. The weight of the shell can be annoying when playing "em cima", but in spite of this many Sambistas favor this caixa because of the typical, very dry sound. It is also frequently played in the samba schools because of its lower price.
Source: www.kalango.com
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