This simple yet effective friction drum produces sound by means of rubbing a stick that passes through the center of a drum head.
The instrument is played by wetting the fingers of one hand or a small piece of wet cloth, and the stick-slipping movement is relayed to the drumhead membrane. The sounds that result from varying the pressure can be described as sighing, grunting and moaning; it’s a very vocal and guttural sounding instrument.
Simple yet effective as a real musical instrument, the cuica is a Brazilian instrument whose honks, hoots, and howls can be heard on many recordings. As a friction drum, the cuica produces sound by means of rubbing a stick that passes through the center of a drum head.
The instrument is played by wetting the fingers of one hand or a small piece of wet cloth, and the stick-slipping movement is relayed to the drumhead membrane. The sounds that result from varying the pressure can be described as sighing, grunting and moaning; it’s a very vocal and guttural sounding instrument.
The cuica friction drum can be made in just a few minutes from easy to find materials, most of them readily available from grocery stores.
Materials List
- 1 24-ounce metal coffee can with a resealable plastic lid
- 1 1/8” diameter by 10” long bamboo skewer or similar light stick
- Duct or other heavy duty tape
- A few square inches of scrap chamois or cotton rag
Metal 24-ounce cans tend to work best. A 12-ounce can will do, and a cardboard box with a plastic lid such as an oatmeal box can be used for practice.
Instructions
- Remove both ends of the coffee can with a can opener.
- Place 1 inch square pieces of duct tape at the center of the plastic lid on each side. Press them firmly in place.
- Drill a 1/16 inch hole through the exact center of the lid, making sure to pass it through the duct tape
- Pass the end of the stick through the hole in the lid. The stick must be secured in place. One way to do this is by narrowing one end of the stick to a point by means of sanding or whittling. A wooden or bamboo skewer will already have a sharpened end. Cut two strips of duct tape, ½ inch wide and 3 inches long. Wrap one piece around the stick several times at a point 1 inch from the pointed end. Push the pointed end through the hole in the lid from inside the can to where leading edge of the tape wrap contacts the lid. With the second piece of tape, make several wraps around the part of the stick that extends from the top of the lid, making the wrap fit as snuggly as possible against the top surface.
- Replace the plastic lid on top of the can so that the stick passes through the interior of the can and out the opposite side. If using a skewer or similar pointed stick, snip the end for safety.
Playing the Cuica
Wet the scrap of rag or chamois. Hold the can with one hand. With the other, reach into the can and lightly pinch the stick with the wet rag between the thumb and forefinger. The plastic lid serves as a membrane that moans and groans was the rag is rubbed along the stick.
The pitch, amplitude and timbre can be changed by varying the pressure and speed of this movement. Another way to control pitch is to press firmly on the lid with the fingers of the hand that holds the can. Experimentation is key to learning the cuica's range.
Have fun!
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