claves
Claves (Spanish: [ˈklaβes]) are a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of short, wooden sticks about 20–25 centimeters (8–10 inches) long and about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) in diameter. Although traditionally made of wood (typically rosewood, ebony or grenadilla) many modern manufacturers offer claves made of fiberglass or plastic. When struck, claves produce a bright, penetrating clicking noise.
claves
Freddythehat at English Wikipedia · Public domain
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- percussion instrument.
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Claves (Spanish: [ˈklaβes]) are a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of short, wooden sticks about 20–25 centimeters (8–10 inches) long and about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) in diameter. Although traditionally made of wood (typically rosewood, ebony or grenadilla) many modern manufacturers offer claves made of fiberglass or plastic. When struck, claves produce a bright, penetrating clicking noise.
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In this article
History
History
This makes them useful when playing in large dance bands. Claves are sometimes hollow and carved in the middle to amplify the sound.
Claves have been very important in the development of Afro-Cuban music, such as the son and guaguancó.They are also often used in Samba music. They are often used to play an ostinato, or repeating rhythmic figure, throughout a piece known as the clave. Many examples of clave-like instruments can be found around the world.
Use in popular music
Use in popular music
Some salsa singers play this percussion while singing. Among the bands to have used claves are the Beatles in their recordings "Don't Bother Me", "And I Love Her" and The Who in their song "Magic Bus". Claves are also utilized in the interstitial spaces of the Night Court theme.
Use in classical music
Use in classical music
Many composers looking to emulate Afro-Cuban music will often use claves such as Arturo Márquez with Danzón No. 2 or George Gershwin with his Cuban Overture. Steve Reich's Music for Pieces of Wood is written for five pairs of claves.
Technique
The basic principle when playing claves is to allow at least one of them to resonate. The usual technique is to hold one lightly with the thumb and fingertips of the non-dominant hand, with the palm up. This forms the hand into a resonating chamber for the clave. Holding the clave on top of fingernails makes the sound clearer. The other is held by the dominant hand at one end with a firmer grip, much like how one normally holds a drumstick. The player strikes the resting clave in the center with the end of this stick. Traditionally, the striking clave is called el macho ("the male") and the resting clave is called la hembra ("the female"). This terminology is used even when the claves are identical. A roll can be achieved on the claves by holding one clave between the thumb and first two fingers, and then alternating pressure between the two fingers to move the clave back and forth. This clave is placed against the resonating clave to produce a roll.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1140461281, Claves.
Unverified · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
reference work
- “Claves”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q850118: claves
Unverified · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Claves – Instruments of the world. instrumentsoftheworld.com.
- 2.Claves musical instrument. Encyclopedia Britannica.
- 3.Blades, James. Claves. Grove Music Online. 2013. 978-1-56159-263-0.
- 4.Godfried T. Toussaint, "A mathematical analysis of African, Brazilian, and Cuban clave rhythms," Proceedings of BRIDGES: Mathematical Connections in Art, Music and Science, Towson University, Towson, MD, July 27–29, 2002, pp. 157–168.
- 5.Shepherd, John. Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World. A&C Black. 2. 352–355. 2003. 978-0-8264-6322-7.
- 6.Klöwer, Töm. The Joy of Drumming: Drums & Percussion Instruments From Around the World. Binkey Kok. 72. 1997. 90-74597-31-9.
- 7.Karl Peinkofer and Fritz Tannigel, Handbook of Percussion Instruments, (Mainz, Germany: Schott, 1976), 142.
- 8.Steve Reich, Writings about Music, New York University Press, 1974.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 4
- F. Ortiz, La Clave, Editorial Letras Cubanas, La Habana, Cuba, 1995.
- D. Peñalosa, The Clave Matrix – Afro-Cuban Rhythm: Its Principles and African Origins, Bembe Books, Redway California, U.S.A., 2009.
- O. A. Rodríguez, From Afro-Cuban Music to Salsa, Piranha, Berlin, 1998.
- E. Uribe, The Essence of Afro-Cuban Percussion and Drum Set, Warner Brothers Publications, Miami, Florida, 1996.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1140461281, Claves.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolvedauthority record
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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