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Claves
Claves are a percussion instrument made up of two short pieces of wood which are played against each other producing a sharp cutting sound. They are traditionally made from good hardwoods but some modern producers will even use fiberglass or plastic. When played they are held with the non dominant hand cupped underneath one of the clave to create a resonating chamber while the other hand holds the remaining clave like a drumstick to strike against the other. Clave in Spanish means 'key' or 'keystone', and it plays this role in the music of many countries. The claves play a vital role in Afro-Cuban music and many people consider the clave to be the key to understanding the music.
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