Cowbell

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Audio: Cowbell

The cowbell is a clapperless metal percussion instrument struck with a stick. In Latin American music it replaces a cow's neck bell; a symbol of salsa, mambo, and Afro-Cuban jazz.

The cowbell descends from the real bells worn on livestock necks, which in the Alps and Andes let shepherds know where their herd was. Over time the instrument entered music: performers removed the clappers and began striking the body with a stick to control the sound.

In Cuban music the cowbell (cencerro) plays a structural role: the bongocero switches to cowbell at certain points, sharply changing the energy. There is also a small handheld “cha-cha bell” (campana) held in one hand and struck with a stick in the other.

In rock music the cowbell became legendary through Blue Öyster Cult's “Don't Fear the Reaper” and the iconic “More Cowbell” Saturday Night Live sketch with Christopher Walken. Jazz performers: Chano Pozo, Giovanni Hidalgo. On today's Ukrainian scene the cowbell sounds in Latin-fusion and jazz projects.

Cultural Versus

Cowbell

Sub-category:: percussion

The cowbell is a clapperless metal percussion instrument struck with a stick. In Latin American music it replaces a cow's neck bell; a symbol of salsa, mambo, and Afro-Cuban jazz.

51%similarity

Bayan

Sub-category:: free-reed

The bayan is a button-keyboard variant of the accordion with button systems on both sides. The main concert instrument of the Ukrainian-Slavic tradition, capable of performing the most complex academic music.