Reco-reco

The reco-reco is a percussion instrument that belongs to the family of idiophones. The reco-reco looks like a guiro, an instrument used in the Caribbean for instance in salsa. The reco-reco is made of wood or metal. The most common form consists of a piece of bamboo or a small wooden resonance body with transversal notches. The friction of a stick over the notches produces a scraping sound. Another form consists of a small wooden or metal box that functions as the resonance body. Attached to the box are stretched some springs. By moving a stick over the windings of the spring the reco-reco produces a scratching sound. It is used in the "roda de capoeeira Angola" na Bahia. In other states it is used more seldom.