Castanets

Castanets are percussion instruments, classed as idiophones, with a characteristic clicking sound. They consist of two similar round, hollow pieces of wood, like the shells of a chestnut, joined by a cord that passes over the player's fingers, so that they stay open; pressing with the thumb and middle finger clicks them together.

They are used mainly in Spanish dance and music, to accent the dancers' movements and underline the rhythm. The castanets in the world-famous 'Spanish' tunes are a typical example.

There are also large castanets with spoon-like handles, and small castanets fixed to drums and struck with a stick.