# What is This Instrument?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-instrument/474758>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 28, 2008, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-instrument/474758 "2008-11-28T03:32:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-instrument/474758/1 "2008-11-28T03:32:04Z")

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[4:09 in this clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE7vfy0Xs7k&feature=related). It makes a clacking sound, sort of like a rattle. I’ve heard it used in other songs as well.

And how does it work?

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**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-instrument/474758/2 "2008-11-28T03:33:07Z")

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Link broke; but I’m guessing a vibra slap?

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-instrument/474758/3 "2008-11-28T03:38:04Z")

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> [@brujaja](#):
>
> Link broke; but I’m guessing a vibra slap?

I managed to get the link to work (you need to delete the initial http and the quote marks, and then add a colon after the remaining http), and it’s more of the rattlesnake kind of rattle, a fast but short series of discrete ticks. I have no idea exactly what instrument produces it, though. I was a band geek, but the percussionists were the crazy people banging on things in the back…

[Fixed link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE7vfy0Xs7k&feature=related)

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-instrument/474758/4 "2008-11-28T03:38:19Z")

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> [@brujaja](#):
>
> Link broke; but I’m guessing a vibra slap?

![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gE7vfy0Xs7k/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/gE7vfy0Xs7k?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque

Try that one.

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**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-instrument/474758/5 "2008-11-28T04:00:30Z")

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[**brujaja** got it in one.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibraslap)