Clave

Two dowels usually made of grenadilla wood. One of the dowels must rest in the hand and create a resonator while the other dowel is used to strike and create sound. African claves are larger and have a hollowed out section in the resonating clave. Even when this pattern is not actually being played in an Afro-Cuban ensemble, people are thinking this rhythm and relating their dancing, singing and/or playing to the clave pattern.