Meinl CA5BK-L turbo cabasa, grande

General

Meinl's CA5BK-L is a large turbo cabasa. This instrument is very popular in bossa nova music, for instance, and is clearly an improvement on the original. It mostly improves on the volume it can produce, as the CA5BK-L has five sound ports on either side of the resonance chamber that amplify the scraping and rustling sounds the chain makes.

Playing the cabasa

The cabasa's sound is created by friction between the metal beads on the chain and the special texture of the stainless steel cylinder. This friction is created when you shake and twist the cabasa, holding it by the padded wooden handle, after which the aforementioned resonance chamber amplifies and disperses the sound.