The word shaker describes a large number of percussive musical instruments used for creating rhythm in music.

They are so called because the method of creating sound involves shaking them—moving them back and forth rather than striking them. Most may also be struck for a greater accent on certain beats. Shakers are often used in rock and popular styles to jive the j ride pattern along with or substituting for the ride cymbal.

Types of shaker

A shaker may comprise a container, partially full of small loose objects such as beads, which create the percussive sounds as they collide with each other, the inside surface, or other fixed objects inside the container – as in a Rainstick, Caxixi

Caxixi

A caxixi is a percussion instrument consisting of a closed basket with a flat-bottom filled with seeds or other small particles. The caxixi is an indirectly struck idiophone. Like the maraca, it is sounded by shaking. It is found across Africa and South America, but mainly in Brazil...

 or Egg shaker

Egg shaker

An egg shaker is a hand percussion instrument, in the idiophone category, that makes a noise when shaken, usually by hand. Functionally it is similar to a maraca. Typically the outer casing or container is oval or egg-shaped...

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