Wooden Chocalho

A chocalho (show - kai - oo) is a Brazilian instrument used in Samba music, particularly Batucada and Sambe De Enredo. The instrument is played by shaking it back and forth and pumping the arms up and down. The chocalho is a very loud instrument, especially when played in groups. They are typically used as a support instrument to help back up the caixas and sustain the rhythm in the bateria.

There are two main types of chocalho: one involves a metal frame surrounding groups of jingles, and the other employs a wooden handle with jingles attached to the outside. This instructable will show you how to make the wooden variety.

Step 1 Materials and Tools

This project is fairly easy and inexpensive. It does require some basic woodworking knowledge.

Materials:

Piece of wood - I recommend a hardwood like maple. I used a 1.5" x .75" piece

Nails - I used 6d 2" flat head nails. Just make sure they fit loosely through the jingles and that the jingles don't fall off.

Tambourine Jingles - Mid-East Mfg sells two types of bulk tambourine jingles. I used the nickel plated brass jingles.

Tools:

Saw
Drill
Hammer
Measuring Device

Comments

[matosmeister]

Here in portugal it is common to use bottle caps instead os those jingles..And i've seen that since as far as i remember so i guess it's not an ecological fad..

[chapa-de-frente]

SWEET! i was planning on making these as well, and for my pandeiro's jingles i also went to mideast.
pretty awsome, thanks for the instructable!

[drumsamgar]

I made three of these: two large and one small. We use them at every practise and gigs in our carnival drumming group in Derby UK called Calidoscopio which started in Feb 2009. We have done about 9 gigs and have another double one this Sat. It is very satisfying to see them used everytime. Thanks very much for your instructions. We call them rocars.

Happy Christmas, Simon

[K-Sue]

Soda bottle or beer bottle caps work great for the jingles too.