Shonga Shaker

The Shonga Guiro by Eccentric Systems Design was designed to be both tunable and melodic. This American-made shonga was turned from solid hardwoods with die-cast chrome hardware and a goatskin head. With this tunable head, Shongas are tuned to a pitch, then with simple finger techniques the player can play or shake melodic notes with a range of over a full octave. Other shakers rattle at a single, random pitch. Shongas add the ability to move the sound in pitched notes, adding much more dynamic range to the instrument.

Shonga's versatility as a melodic shaker or hand drum will also produce a high-pitched "pop" sound like that of a woodblock or clave. However with the Shonga, these sounds can also change pitches with a simple finger technique. Shonga's hand drum can thus produce melodic lines to cover Agog´ bell patterns or even solo melodies.