Cajon drums are providing for us in various applications to play different styles of music since they are very good drum for playing music. This is the reason you will find a lot of people buy them and you will see a lot of music professionals including large percussionists that play them also.
But when you will go out there and will start to look for the best cajon drum there are a lot of things you will need to consider before buying it.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Pyle String Cajon | Best Overall |  |
| Joy 101 Pad Series Cajon | Budget Pick |  |
| A Tempo Percussion El Artesano Cajon | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Pyle String Cajon
Pros:
- Cost-effective design
- Highly durable
- Versatile design
- Quality sound for the price range chosen
- Easy to use
- Solid wooden construction
- An excellent option for children and beginners
Cons:
- Cannot be customized
- Would not fit a taller person
- No storage
Natural Finish.
Once you learn to a beat on your cajon box, the world is your musical oyster! There are very few instruments that you can take with you anywhere that can make so many sounds.
Pyle PPCNJW-NA String Cajon – Natural Wood, measures 11-1/4x11x5-1/4 inches, features internal guitar strings, is an ideal choice for learning the instrument. The small size and solid wooden construction make it durable, and it has a nice sound for the price range.
2. Groove Wire Cajon
Pros:
- Great value for the money
- Easy to assemble
- Excellent quality for any level player
- Seat feels very comfortable against your body
Cons:
- A bit heavy
- Mounting screws are made from low-quality materials
- The screws are extremely loose
Groove Wire Cajon is one of the best cajons on the market, but, as with anything you purchase from the online marketplace, you should be careful with your selection.
Groove Wire Cajon has very favorable reviews most of which state that the cajon is sturdy, easy to carry and assemble. Strong construction, even without stabilizing feet, makes it a great choice for any level player and the good thing is that it is very easy to carry around to your friends and family.
Another excellent aspect is that the sound quality is far better that of similarly priced models. Of course, the sound is not the best ever but it is a really nice sound for beginners and advanced players.
3. Meinl Jumbo Bass Subwoofer Cajon
Pros:
- Durable, scratch-resistant playing surface
- Drum shell made from Mahogany and Maple
- 2 years warranty
- Easy, open-close back
- Lowered position of the snare wires
- Adjustable snares for different tones.
Cons:
- Low cost to quality ratio.
4. Meinl Cajon Box Drum
Pros:
- Affordable
- Sturdy construction
- Internal-umbrella toggle snare system
- Accent rings on drum
- Non-slip foam seat included
- Adjustable horizontal and vertical positions
Cons:
- Lacks some bass tones
- Sound may not be perfect for professional studio work
The Meinl cajon box drum is a must have for anyone looking for an affordable cajon with a different tone. This drum offers a quality feel in a compact package.
The drum is an excellent size for new drummers, yet it sounds and feels solid like a larger cajon. The build quality of this drum is amazing, which is something you don’t expect to find at a low cost. The quality of the sound is what really sets this cajon apart from others. The drum is not overly bassy so it is easy to get a clean sound with this cajon.
Even a beginner will be able to play the cajon with ease. The vertical and horizontal positions are also adjustable which will help you find your sweet spot behind the drum. With the sound and feel of a much more expensive instrument, this cajon is a definite winner.
5. Moukey Full Size Cajon Box Drum
Pros:
- A lower-cost option
- Several color options available
- Decent sound quality
- Has a built-in amplifier
- Includes a carrying bag
Cons:
- Not ideal for professional play
- Sound quality might not be ideal for professionals
If you're looking for the best cajon drum for beginners, then you can't go wrong with the Moukey Full Size Cajon box. This product has earned a lot of praise for its high-quality sound and premium features. Moukey is known for making high-quality cajon drums out of USA-sourced birch.
This product comes with an unprocessed sound and premium birch wood that give it a distinct, precise sound that distinguishes itself from other brands. It's great for practicing, jamming with other friends, or even for busking or playing at a coffee house. The distinct sound has a woody tone that makes it a great addition to a variety of genres.
The drum is built with a rounded tone-ring on the top of the shell, which makes the sound resonate more freely, and the sound radiates in the room very easily. You can adjust the sound by adding a driver-board to the head if you prefer a harsher sound. The head itself is made of synthetic lambskin, which suits a variety of musical tastes.
6. Pyle Stringed Jam Cajon
Pros:
- Sturdy construction
- A decent variety of tones
- Built-in switch allows you to transition seamlessly between snare and bass sounds
- Different playing techniques produce different sounds, making the cajon more versatile
Cons:
- Only has one level of volume
- Volume isn’t adjustable
- Amplification only available when product is connected to a PA system
You can’t go wrong with this Pyle Stringed Jam Cajon. It features a nice, sturdy construction, with a basswood shell that’s topped with a spruce layer for a smooth musical tone. The cajon’s acoustics are surprisingly good, and this instrument is a great deal for beginners.
These performance-quality cajons feature a built-in switch that allows you to transition seamlessly between snare and bass sounds. Playing techniques also affect the quality of sound you produce on this cajon, and this is what makes this product so versatile.
The first level of volume on the Pyle cajon is at a decent level, and it allows you to play at small events. You can connect the product to a PA system to receive amplification, but even without it, the sound is still audible.
7. Sawtooth ST-CJ120B Cajon Birch Wood
Pros:
- Wide bass resonance
- Can be used with electronic drum kits as a bass drum replacement
- Includes adjustable padded seat to allow for comfortable and ergonomic playing
- Includes a convenient carrying bag
- Short break in period
- Handcrafted in Canada
This cajon from Sawtooth has an excellent bass resonance at a reasonable price. This doesn’t come in a fancy package, but that’s one of the best things about this instrument. It can be used with electronic drum kits and has an adjustable padded seat that allows you to play comfortably and ergonomically. It includes an exceptional carrying bag to transport the drum around with ease.
The included instructional DVD is helpful in order to learn the basics in a few hours. There has been some loud buzzing when the drum is played hard and too much, but this is to be expected especially since it is handcrafted.
8. Joy 101 Pad Series Cajon
Pros:
- Small and lightweight
- Easy to store and transport
- Ideal for beginners and kids
- Durable wooden construction
- Various finishes available
- Non-toxic and free from harmful chemicals
- Soft felt pad
9. Meinl Bongo Cajon Box Drum
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Aesthetically pleasing finish
- Relatively easy to tune
- Good build quality
- Easy-to-use playing surface
- Includes effective snare system
Cons:
- Low sound quality
- Internal hardware is sub-par
- Needs additional investments for better sound quality
The Meinl bongo cajon features drumheads made of Makassar ebony wood, one of the most beautifully-grained types of wood. The drum’s wood-grain gives it an authentic appearance. The drum also comes with heads made of goat skin which helps to enhance your playing as it is durable and produces a warmer tone.
The cajon’s playing surface has a natural finish with the grain showing through. The suede playing surface allows for a good grip and the buttons are in place to help maintain a steady beat. It also features a snare system which is located inside the front plate of the drum.
The cajon comes with a rounded-edge cut which gives it an almost acoustic-like quality, so it works well in combination with a set of acoustic drums. The Meinl Bongo Cajon is one of the most affordable drum sets we tested. We feel this is a great value for money product that will serve well for beginner drummers.
10. A Tempo Percussion El Artesano Cajon
Pros:
- Made in Colombia
- Ideal for advanced percussionists and drummers
- Includes drum and bag
- Ideal for percussionists and beginners alike
- Extremely durable and sturdy
- Can be used to play any style of music
Our top pick is the A Tempo Percussion El Artesano Cajon drum which is made in Colombia. It’s particularly ideal for advanced percussionists and drummers, thanks to its sturdy build and high-end features.
It includes a padded bag to ensure that you can safely transport it. Another thing to note about this product is that it’s perfect for beginners, too.
The quality construction is guaranteed to hold up under regular use, meaning you can use it for years without having to worry about its durability. Plus, it’s perfect for playing in any style of music. It also includes a free bag for transportation purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What's the best cajon drum to buy?
Size is important to consider as well, if you plan to play sitting down and playing the cajon drum with your feet. If you plan on playing the cajon in traditional style (standing up with the drum between your knees and hands) and plan to air drum a lot, you really only need the standard size cajon.
However, if you plan to play in the sitting position with your hand on the drum, try to find a drum that is large enough to play comfortably. You also have to consider if you plan on playing with a microphone at all. While there are different types of microphones that can be attached to a cajon drum, you’ll need a deeper drum to be able to accommodate the microphone, which is essentially a stand.
Who makes the best Cajon?
Now that you’ve learned a bit about what goes into a Cajon drum, you’re probably wondering about who makes the best Cajons.
There are a handful of companies that have made Cajons for decades, and it’s best to go with a tried and true Cajon brand.
These companies know what they’re doing, so you can trust that they have your Cajon drum interest in mind.
Can you play a cajon with drumsticks?
You can play a cajon with drumsticks. Generally, the drumsticks won't be very effective because there is not a lot of rebound but you can still play it and achieve a similar sound.
However, playing the Cajon with drumsticks isn't actually how they are intended to be played. They were not designed to be a drum but rather a camp drum. While playing this drum type can be fun, if you want to get the most out of your cajon then you will want to use cajon sticks (also known as cajon brush sticks or Cajon drum sticks).
Cajon brush sticks are different than acoustic drumsticks because they have a thicker rubber grip and a thinner, plastic, brush tip. These sticks are typically used for playing the martial arts drums.
How To Play The Cajon With Brush Sticks:
What is the drum you sit on called?
Cajons are congo drums that usually have a very tight snare. The difference between cajon snare and other snare? It's all in the spacing and length of the wires that create the snare. Most Cajon snare wires are very tight and short and are evenly spread across the front top to bottom. There is often no 'off' side, which is the side containing the hole.
The congo drum is a one-piece drum that is carved out of a solid piece of wood. This solid wood construction means the entire body of the drum vibrates. Because the body of the drum is solid, it offers a great deal more projection than many of the other percussion instruments.
The cajon drum is the percussionist's version of the kick drum.
Conclusion
Choosing the best Cajon drum is a difficult task because there are so many on the market today. This can make it hard to pick out the best Cajon for yourself. This buying guide has been designed to make this process easier.
After 10 hours of testing, in-depth research and analysis, we gave the DDrum DD1-CR Cajon our top choice.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Pyle String Cajon | Best Overall | |
| Joy 101 Pad Series Cajon | Budget Pick | |
| A Tempo Percussion El Artesano Cajon | Upgrade Pick | |