Build a Cajón

Build a cajón – a simple wooden instrument with the versatility of a drum kit! Originally from South America, particularly Perú, and derived from African wooden drums, the cajón has found its way into flamenco, rumba, folk, blues, jazz, and other musical traditions. It is a fairly simple design and easily portable. Cajóns can be as simple as a box with a thin “tapa” face for striking, or can be customized with snares or strings, adjustable sound holes, feet, pedals or levers, decor, and more.

A light skinned woman in suede bell-bottoms sits on a wooden box drum in a street setting. She has a microphone in front of her and a small cymbal on a stand to her left and appears to be singing and playing the drum.
This image was originally posted to Flickr by Dave Catchpole at https://www.flickr.com/photos/52957117@N04/5990865523. cc-by-2.0 via wikimedia.org

This project can take longer than the allotted time, especially if customizing the design, applying a finish, or for less experienced carpenters. If students would like to return to complete the box to their liking after the 4 hour class, a day pass can be added to the class at a discounted price ($25) when signing up or on the same day as the course.

A 12x16 inch plywood box with a six-inch hole sits on a maple workbench, clamped together and waiting for glue to dry.
A cajón in progress

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