How to Play Cajon with Mike Bennett

Mike Bennett shows you the essentials to cajon playing. He explains how to “have fun experimenting with the instrument and learn to manipulate the sounds.” As he demonstrates, “there’s a lot of ways to use different techniques, to get all sorts of crazy cool sounds out of the drum.”
Mike has played drums with Richie Kotzen, Hilary Duff, Alicia Keys, Bruno Mars, Slash, Stevie Wonder, and more. He has also made television appearances on programs such as “The Tonight Show,” “The Ellen Degeneres Show,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” etc. Off stage Bennett is an in-demand producer, programmer and television composer for networks including NBC, FX, HISTORY, DISCOVERY, MTV, VH1, HGTV, DISNEY CHANNEL, A&E and many others.

[@rocketbosszach6727]

I loved you as Marty McFly's dad in Back to the Future. But seriously, I just learned about the cajon. What a cool instrument.

[@shivaumesh1129]

haha

[@cbvoicenotes267]

Love the groovy feel of the ghost notes!! Definitely adds a COOL flair to the cajon!👍

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

Thanks Mike. Love to hear your playing - super groovy.

[@davidmcaninch4714]

WORLD DRUM CLUB KALANI!!!!! Big fan!!!

[@Dominicangirl78]

Thank you. It made so easy forme to understand the basic of the cajon instrument.

[@josephgurzynski1053]

Extremely well done and helpful.

[@shatteredstiks7392]

Great beginner lesson sir I needed to get started this is the best one

[@LeoL-ib9wz]

The Cajon was born In Perú to the world ! It's a peruvian pride ! Thank you for the vídeo "máster"

[@michaelmassey8353]

love your work with kotzen😀 live in Japan DVD is one of the absolute best live performances I have ever seen😮😮😮

[@mirta.queloquetengoquehace5948]

Es lindo ver personas tan alegres con lo que están haciendo tocar el ‘cajon’.

[@bitterclinger]

Thanks, Mike - great intro lesson (especially for non-percussionists like me :) I'm looking to porentially buy an LP model (possibly one of the American models, but there are a lot of models to choose from and a lot of vendors). Have a great 2015!

[@Isosceles1]

Great intro to playing the cajon. Thanks Mike!

[@butterflybutterfly864]

Wow what a great tuto - thanx 4 that

[@Floridafisherman5000]

I really like how you used your shoes in the begining of this video and slide them down the front to get a cool tone!!!

[@LPYT]

😄

[@danielfrenz6512]

Very Good! Grooved

[@ocktiockti5772]

cool... thx Mike

[@miketucker1908]

Is it taboo to use the tips of your fingers for the bass? Maybe it's a bad habit but I find that it brings a deeper, more muted tone that I personally prefer and I have more control of my hand.

[@bandwagonDan]

i sometimes do this on conga and it brings kind of a brighter, less-ringing sound. Usually i'm doing it to semi-mute or change the tone of the next hit. Just ordered a cajon, so i look forward to trying it.

[@cjld104]

Which ever sound better. It depends on the material of the cajon you're playing. There's no right or wrong as long as you sound right.

[@Floridafisherman5000]

Very cool dude! I just bought my first Cajon, Pearl. Thanks for this video. I play bass and guitar so this will be cool!!!!

[@LPYT]

Very cool!

[@yagerlege]

That was the best video...i like it thank you

[@chickenmuffin]

Video starts at 1:58

[@bernieheveron1929]

Very cool!

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

See the wires to microphone sound is altered vs natural sound’s weather it’s adding towel inside or something else like snares to alter the sound

[@timmytfpv7316]

Just ordered myself a lp matador triple percussion cajon super excited to learn this whats your thoughts on the matador

[@cbvoicenotes267]

NOICE nails my guy!👊♥️😎

[@marceloalecchi1479]

I’m so proud of my country 🇵🇪

[@ivanplayz2122]

That pretty good!

[@trevortractor]

I can't stop imagining him sitting at home painting his nails.

[@logancunningham4801]

He probably gets his boyfriend to do it.

[@nataliebadillo2295]

Same

[@L53ch]

@@logancunningham4801 He is gayyyyy?

[@speedingcometproductions117]

@@L53ch I don’t hear a squeaky voice not that all gays sound like that

[@AkshaySingh-bg2ws]

Hello This guy @Juyal Beats posted an impossible cajon solo is it really impossible if not how hard is it?I am asking this question from some cajon players

[@vkumar95aviator]

Is it possible to use some of the finger techniques used in Indian percussion on a cajon? Can the signs be heard from that kind of finger strokes?

[@vkumar95aviator]

Sounds*

[@mikebennett8921]

Hey man! I know a lot of guys that apply both Indian Tabla techniques as well as Egyptian Tabla/Darbuka and Riq techniques to the cajon in some really cool ways. Go for it!

[@vkumar95aviator]

Mike Bennett Alriiiight sir!!! Gonna get one once i graduate in a few months and practice. Should be easy for me to pick it up right sir?

[@areasco13]

Love it!

[@ivocacak]

Which mic model you use for back bass sound? thanks

[@ManuelHernandez-lo5ye]

I got mine but I ordered it a week ago and I've seen people discuss how the snare on this cajon kinda sucks... how can I make it sound like yours, how did you tune it??

[@Triani26]

Nice work Mike... ))

[@Fantasydiver]

Mike, can you please explain the microphone set-up you're using for the demo i.e., mic types and placement?

[@ProxyticGaming]

If you have one Mic, place it near the hole in the back, if you have two mics, place them in the front and back. Hope this helps.😊

[@renedanielcansecocitalan231]

Yo tengo ese cajón !! Y me super encanta !! :)

[@itsmarky175]

Did you install CajonPort/Maximizer?

[@bangdedix5967]

thanks mr mike

[@bigrickshaberdashery2759]

wondering about your choice of mic and placement? why?

[@dirtydan9904]

I have this one but it all sounds like a mix of a snare and a bass. Does anyone know how to fix it?

[@birdeater2848]

That's just the problem with a snare cajon

[@pierobejarano9749]

Me sorprende que no baje más las manos para mostrar las notas graves, a la altura de la mitad hacia abajo el cajón peruano tiene unos graves geniales.

[@kedarkulkarnitablavideos7345]

Great

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

Some people use just can’t fix im on my fourth cajon build regardless how Identical I build them not two are the same

[@TSgitaar]

'Fits in with any style' Death metal with a cajon anyone? I am thinking about buying a cajon, does anyone know if this is a good one?

[@benhelmuth9129]

I have the meinl cajon with subs on the sides. Best acoustic volume if that's what you're looking for. A birch box has a nicer snap, but less on the bass end. All depends on what sound you're going for.

[@gregogborn608]

I started with this one (after 50 years of trap set), it's a good, sturdy, functional, inexpensive little box. I've since given it to my daughter and replaced it with a Gon Bop Alex Acuna Signature model, but I would absolutely recommend the LP black box.

[@LPYT]

Thanks Greg.

[@TSgitaar]

Thanks everyone for their replies! I bought a nice Schlagwerk CP408 cajon.

[@juliekrol]

I’ve wanted a cajon for 4 years but I keep moving to different countries so until I find a more long term home 😂

[@socaloutdoors7355]

Great vid!

[@timothylawrence707]

3:16 "Never choke it with your hand." You sound like my mom.

[@513hockeyman]

How can I tune this cajon? I am getting a terrible snare sound right out of the box

[@LPYT]

Hi Justin, Sorry to hear that. This Cajon is not tunable. We hope it is not defective but you might want to take it back to the Dealer where you purchased it and try another one in case. Hope this helps.

[@CajonplayerIndiamusic]

Excellent explanation , #CajonplayerIndia

[@samuelsteacup7124]

I swear this dude played penguin in Gotham

[@allandocater6296]

Hmmm... I finally followed Ann's advice and took Stodoys. It's great for beginners and has some advanced stuff too.

[@Branhawk]

Hit lower it sounds lower hit higher it sounds higher. Easy enough.

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

Your mic changes the sound of the cajon

[@everdash]

Any instrument is easy to play when the devil himself is letting you borrow his hands.

[@liamchamberlain4572]

This guy is the bob ross of drumming

[@CatatonicLover]

def painted his nails for this

[@heyitsalfe]

Never choke it with your hand

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

I’ve built four identical Cajuns not one sounds alike

[@MrSticks9999]

If you have more than one . .do you have cajonies?

[@davidmarks7411]

Does he realise he has a snare model?

[@evanjacobs_music]

Perfect look for the rock n roll... worst comparison ever

[@braderdaniel4607]

How much is your cajon

[@BoxThatBeat]

like 300$ CAD

[@Sundertalesz]

His specific model is around 80-90$. LP City Series black box cajon

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

Play it without the microphone

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

Mics tend to alter the actual sound of the cajon

[@JorickTube]

I can't, I just can;t

[@Mercgo]

This got kinda sexual

[@AVKabbalahacademy]

WTF!!! "This instrument LP has called the cajón" ??? Really? It seems this guy dont have a *^%*@ idea about the history and roots of the cajón.... shame on him and on you LP

[@davidmarks7411]

Maximus Fraktal he also doesn't know he's playing a snare model

[@bandwagonDan]

So do a thing and enlighten us.

[@williamjver]

I cant watch this guy Im out.

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

In today’s time they don’t even care of who or what they are in life mental illness is no longer took care of. Let them be mentally challenged

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

Not my belief there’s an mental illness experts don’t care attitude

[@paulbaker6226]

switched off as soon as I noticed the nails

[@timandshannon03]

No you didn't, you still took time to talk shit. Then you stopped it. Lol

[@lvvry1855]

This is an instrument? It's a friggin' box, for God's sakes.

[@neverusingthisagain2]

It's a box with a reverberating front plate and guitar strings and snares inside. Awesome for acoustic shows

[@jameskilner8292]

Does it help if I put nail varnish on? bet if I put lipstick on I'd be a pro. l.m.f.a.o

[@TheYoden85]

I know its each to their own and all that but whats the fucking point in the nail varnish bro? Come on man you're a man!

[@daydreamstar1707]

the one .... a man wearing nail varnish doesn’t make his penis drop off. Stop being so narrow minded.