Metal Guiro with Scraper

The guiro makes its sound by dragging a scraper across a ridged surface, and the metal version cuts through a live band mix far more effectively than the traditional gourd, which tends to disappear the moment a horn section starts. It is a staple of merengue, salsa, cumbia and a good deal of Latin jazz percussion writing.

The cylindrical metal body is grooved along its length, and the supplied scraper produces both the long rasp and the short accented strokes that make up standard patterns, so you are not limited to a single texture. A finger hole lets you hold the instrument securely in one hand while the other works the scraper, which is what allows the fast alternating figures the style depends on. The metal shell also stands up to classroom handling far better than a gourd, which cracks if dropped.

It suits Latin percussion players, school and community music programmes, worship bands, and percussionists building out a hand-percussion setup on a budget. Rinse and dry the scraper occasionally to keep the ridges free of grit, which otherwise dulls the tone over time.

• Metal cylindrical body
• Includes matching scraper
• Finger hole for one-hand grip
• Ridged scraping surface