Visiting the Caribbean is an experience filled with sights, tastes, emotions and sounds. Their sounds and the instruments that make them are indicative of the diverse and vibrant cultural interactions of the region.
These cultures interact in many ways, from Spanish and Dutch traders to indigenous peoples to African descents. Like a good spice mix, all Caribbean instruments accent each other, all have their own history, origins and uses.
Photo: Sandals depicted above Entertainment at resorts like Royal Curacao is always lively. From steel drums to traditional Caribbean celebrations, our team knows how to perform on the show.
The drums are some of the most important instruments in the Caribbean. Not only is the backbone of music, drums provide underlying beats and emotions, but in the Caribbean it is also part of cultural history and the current vibrant local culture.
Drums, large and small, can be portable or stationary, and can be attached to a large ensemble or small trio, with most varieties found in the Caribbean.
These are some of the instruments you may encounter if you are visiting a comprehensive resort in the Caribbean.
Bredor
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One of the most recognisable drums in the Caribbean is Blair Doll. This type of drums is essential for the Bombard musical genre. The Bomba dates to the 17th century at least, and the Blair Dore is one of the main percussion instruments of the genre. The Buleador has a low pitch and is primarily responsible for maintaining the rhythm. It is a large wooden drum that may have African origins.
Steel drum
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Steel drums are another type of drums that are very important in the Caribbean, and have come to represent the regions of popular culture around the world. According to the Toucan Steel Drum Band, originally made from steel barrels in the early 20th century and developed in Trinidad in the early 20th century, these drums were created in response to the ban on hand and bamboo drums.
Metal drums, known as steel drums or steel pans, produce a large number of sounds. This is due to the concave shape that allows the drums to produce different sounds when hit in different locations. It also has several different sizes of steel drums, tied to Caribbean culture, making it a diverse, sounding instrument that can be easily recognized as from the region.
Maracas
The Maracas is another type of percussion instrument, but it is not a traditional drum. It is generally made of gourds and shells and filled with dried seeds, making noise when it shakes. They play an important role in Caribbean music and most agree that Malaca was born from the indigenous peoples of Latin America. Maracas can be made from a variety of materials and is extremely portable, making them easy for artists and performers to carry together, and even buy as souvenirs by visitors.
guitar
Guitar is also important in Caribbean music. Guitar is also associated with Spanish culture, and this influence has made it important in the Caribbean. For example, in the Dominican Republic, there is a musical genre called bachata. This genre generally consists of guitar, bongo and maracas. The genre is popular throughout the Caribbean and Latin America and is closely linked to romantic guitar music.
Gyro
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Another important instrument in Caribbean culture is the guiro. A gilo is a hollow cylinder with a ridge on one side, where the rod runs up and down the ridge, creating amplified noise within the hollow instrument. Guilo is prevalent throughout the Caribbean, but its history is vague. It may have African origins, but it is adopted by many cultures.
Paritos
Another important instrument in Caribbean culture is the Paritos or Crave, perhaps influenced by Spanish and Latin American cultures. These are small sticks that hit wooden blocks for small handheld percussion instruments. Given the importance of dance music and the prevalence of guitar trioes, it is important in the Caribbean to have handheld and portable instruments. According to World Music Central, Paritos is the most common in Cuba, but can be found throughout the region.
Instruments play an important role in the Caribbean and beyond. They come from the diverse historical origins of Caribbean culture and ensure that the culture is not forgotten or diminished. It also provides entertainment and unique sound to the region.
Many of these instruments are caused by this region, all from a rich, vibrant, and diverse culture that has developed over the centuries, mixed and developed between a variety of existing cultures.
For example, in the expatriate community in Miami, outside the Caribbean, Caribbean instruments also play a key role. They bring together the community and provide jobs to local artists, craftsmen and entertainers.
