Claves are an instrument of percussion music played in idiophone ancient aboriginal music of Australia, under other names. The claves appear to Cuba to the XVI^th century, on the docks of the port of Havana. Clashed in pace of work, they become in the XVII^th century a percussion instrument, claves (a mixture of words clavar and llaves).

Pair of claves

Ankles (llaves in Spanish) that are nailed (clavar in Spanish) to attach the pieces of the ship are of wood quality and hard (ACAN Jique, guayacan, jucaro, ...), quiebrahacha 20 cm long.

The clave held in the right hand by one of the ends (macho = male) in smashing pace the other placed in the left hand ( hembra = female). The sound is very dry and very strong.

The pressure exerted by the fingers, the way to round off the palm, and of course the force of impact, influence the tone and power of its sound. It may also be stamped hembra cheek and cons of using the mouth as a resonator.

The rhythm played claves called clave.