Claves are two sticks of dry, dense hardwood, 20-25 cm long and 2-3 cm across, struck together to give a sharp click that cuts through singing and other percussion. Hold the resting stick loosely in a cupped hand near one end, where the bar barely moves, so it rings rather than deadens. Season the wood first, because green wood sounds dull and cracks.
Part of Music & Simple Instrument Making
Paired hardwood sticks as a timekeeping instrument: choosing wood, shaping them, and holding them so they ring.
Why They Work
Claves are the cheapest instrument in the family and are used to keep time because their click does not blend into other sounds. The parent article gives the dimensions: two pieces of dense, dry hardwood, 20-25 cm long and 2-3 cm in diameter.
Where to hold the resting stick. A free bar rings best when it is supported where it hardly vibrates. For the lowest mode of a straight bar free at both ends, standard beam theory puts those still points about 22.4 % of the length in from each end (a recalled textbook value; the figure is derivable but I did not rederive it here). For a 25 cm stick that is 0.224 × 25 cm = 5.6 cm from each end; for a 20 cm stick it is 0.224 × 20 cm = 4.5 cm. Cup the resting stick on the fingertips with the thumb at about that spot and the stick rings; clamp it in a fist and the sound dies to a thud.
Pitch and thickness. A thinner or shorter stick rings at a different pitch; thickness raises the note in proportion and length lowers it with its square, as in Log Drums & Hollow Trunk. Make two sticks of slightly different thickness to get a pleasant pair of notes.
What You Need
- Seasoned dense hardwood — branches or offcuts, split and dried; see Wood Seasoning
- A knife or saw and an abrasive such as fine sandstone for smoothing
- Beeswax or plain oil for a finish, only on the handle; see Oil Finishing
Method: Make And Play A Pair
Step 1: Choose straight-grained wood without knots or cracks. Test by tapping a candidate on a hard surface: a long clear ring means dense and dry, a dull thud means wet, rotten or soft.
Step 2: Cut to 20-25 cm and round the ends slightly so they do not chip.
Step 3: Smooth the sides and test the pair for tone. Whittle a little off one if the notes clash.
Step 4: Keep the striking surfaces bare. A coat of finish on the contact surface deadens the sound; oil only the area you hold.
Step 5: Play. Rest one clave on cupped fingertips and strike with the other held lightly. Practise a steady pulse before anything faster; see Rhythm Training.
Common Mistakes
- Gripping the lower stick. It stops ringing.
- Using green wood. It cracks as it dries and sounds dull.
- Painting salvaged wood. Old paint on salvaged timber may contain lead, and a child may suck the end; use bare wood.
Safety
Wood dust and old finishes
Some woods are irritants or toxic as dust; yew is a commonly cited example. Sand outdoors and avoid breathing dust. Do not use salvaged painted or treated timber for sticks that may be mouthed, as old paints can contain lead and some treated timber contains arsenic or copper compounds. Keep fingers clear when splitting wood.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Rhythm Training — what to play with them
- Combine with: Shakers & Rattles — a soft bed under the click