Binzasara

The binzasara is a member of the shaken and scraped idiophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 112.1). Learn how it makes its sound and explore related instruments.

How the binzasara makes its sound

In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the binzasara belongs to the shaken and scraped idiophones: the body is shaken, scraped or split – rattles, maracas and guiros.

More broadly it is one of the idiophones, where the solid body of the instrument itself vibrates, without strings or a stretched membrane.

Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.

From Wikipedia

Binzasara (編木 or 板ざさら) is a traditional Japanese percussion instrument used in folk songs, and rural dances. It was originally used as a cleaning tool. The instrument is made up of several wooden plates strung together with a cotton cord, with handles at both ends. Typically, a binzasara will have 108 wooden slats which is a significant number in Buddhism. The stack of wooden plates is played by making them move like a wave.