Musical Instruments are in various groups and categories such as percussion instruments, wind instruments, and strings instruments. Each of these categories has a long list of common and infamous types of the instrument with cultural heritage peculiar to specific people or race. In the percussion instruments category, rainstick is an instrument liked and traced to the south American countries like Chile and Peru.
The instrument is said to have been developed to call down rain when played with many people in the ancient times believing the myth. In reality, the rainstick is an instrument that sounds in perfect resemblance to the sounds of falling rain and even as people moved away from the mythical beliefs, they embraced the thrilling, calming and soothing effects of the rainstick sound.
Over some decades, the rainstick has increased in recognition across the world due to its unique sound and wide range of usability. In this present age, the rainstick is an instrument that has a good amount of patronage in many musical instrument stores.
What is the Best Rainstick to Buy?
2) Arte Indigena
10" Cactus
Rainstick
- Transparent Sealant for Smoother Finish
- Uniquely Gentle & Calming Sound
- Lightweight
- Slender Handle for Small Hand Cozy Playing
1) Africa Heartwood Project 20" Chilean Rainstick
- Sturdy & Durable Construction
- Clear & Dynamic Sound
- Long-Lasting Varnish
- Stain & Water Proof
- Easy to Clean
3) Meinl 60" Hand Painted Native Rainstick
- Outstanding & Durable Bamboo Material
- Soothing & Calming Sound
- Used as Background Sound to Music
- Ideal for Beginners & Professionals
If you want to buy a percussion rainstick, you need to have a good knowledge of the material used, its usability or functionality as well as other factors. The factors to consider before buying a rainstick are well explained below.
1. Material Choice
The majority of rainstick in ancient times is made in from cactus materials but as times roll by, manufacturers start making use of bamboo materials and even synthetic materials. Buyers are to decide on the material they want their rainstick to be made from. Cactus materials are durable but bamboo types are also durable and offer more sound vibration. Synthetic materials also look good and decorative in nature without necessarily having to make use of handprints.
2. Rainstick Functionality
The usability of the various kinds of rainstick cuts across using the instrument to ease worries, stress as well as to calm kids in schools and homes and to also make use as part of a live concert or studio recording. Buyers must know the functionality of their rainstick to buy a perfect instrument. Buyers should also note that some rainsticks are meant for kids while some are for adults or both. Note all these and decide well.
3. Rainstick Dimension
The dimension is an important factor to consider when buying a rainstick. The length, width, and weight of the rainstick determine how easy and comfortable it is to play the instrument. The weighty rainstick is not too good as it may be difficult to move around with as well as being difficult for kids to play.
20 Best Rainstick Reviews
1) Africa Heartwood Project 20" Chilean Rainstick
This percussion instrument is designed and made with sturdy cactus with a considerable diameter and efficient inner particles that produce a clear and dynamic sound that is useful in homes, classrooms and within musical bands. The outer or external surface of the rainstick is nicely coated with a durable and long-lasting varnish that ensures that the instrument is resistance to water, stains and adverse environmental conditions.
The rainstick comes with a weight of 11 ounces and a size dimension of 20 by 2 by 2 inches that guarantee easy holding even as the surface is smooth and free of any harm. Sounds great and better than poorly made types and you can consider buying it to support the Africa Project.
2) Arte Indigena 10" Cactus Rainstick
This is a nice and effective rainstick from the Arte Indigena brand and it offers a uniquely calming sound that is clear and perfectly resembles the rain-like tones. This product is manufactured from the cactus material that is made smooth by the finish material for easy and comfortable playing. It is 10 inches in length with a very light 3.2 ounces weight.
The attached or wrapped yarn material adds true beauty but buyers are not allowed to choose the preferred color. The short length and slender width are good enough for players with small hands and kids in schools can also relish the benefit of playing a rainstick. This is one of the best shakers and it is made to offer more with the inclusion of a clear sealant.
3) Meinl 60" Hand Painted Native Rainstick
This is a classy, pretty and very effective rainstick that offers so many features as a percussion instrument. Made of bamboo material, the rainstick is a piece that produces a loving sound of a rainstorm or that of a flowing river. It is a very long 60 inches instrument and offers wider inner space for the fillings to make exciting sounds that can be used as background sound at musical concerts and as a part of studio recording percussion.
This product is made for both beginners and professional players and it is easy to play with its 2.5 pounds weight and slender width. This rainstick is capped with a 2 Year warranty on every purchase and this gesture is common to Meinl brand product.
4) Africa Heartwood Project 15" Chilean Rainstick
This is another nice rainstick made for Africa Heartwood Project and it comes as a short, 15 inches and slender 2 inches width size that produces and generates a rain-like sound and tone when played properly. The rainstick is made from cactus material and it is strong and can be used at schools, homes and as an instrument in musical bands.
It is twine dyed with beautiful and pretty colors that carries the Chilean cultural information at one end while the outer surface is coated with a clear material that ensures durability and proper resistance from water and various stains. It has a weight of 7 ounces and this together with its slender width offers an easy playing experience to every player.
5) Bits and Pieces Metal Balls Acrylic Rainstick
This is a type of rainstick percussion instrument that comes with uniqueness as regards the raw material used and the design. This rainstick is made from an acrylic tube with hundreds of tiny metal beads as the inner filling materials. The falling of these metal beads through a disk inside the tube generates and produces the desired sound that completely resembles the sound of falling rain.
It is an instrument that is good for every beginner, professionals, and players of any age as it is harmless. It also has a nice look and can add beauty to any home, office, and school. Measuring 13.6 ounces in weight makes it a bit weighty while its length is about 12 inches.
6) Meinl Percussion Large Bamboo Rainstick – RS1BK-L
This is a lengthy and quite long percussion rainstick which is made from the musical instrument popular brand, Meinl. It is made from bamboo materials and designed to bear amazing and very colorful artistic drawings that express the cultural and traditional information and heritage. The rainstick is 39 inches in length and well painted.
The bamboo allows for melodious sounds that resemble sounds of falling rain. The weight is light at about 2 pounds and can be easily taken or carried anywhere. The bamboo is durable but the Meinl brand failed to offer a 2 Year warranty on every purchase of this product.
7) Meinl Percussion Extra Long Rainstick – RS1BK-XL
This is another model of the Meinl brand which is equally made with a natural bamboo material that offers exceptional and outstanding sounds. This, unlike the previous model, is a 48 inches long rainstick that is capable of producing a rainstorm sound perfect for meditation, as background sound at musical concerts, traditional drama or play and as a part of a recording studio instrument.
In addition to the musical usefulness, this product is a complete beauty that adds so much glamour and grandeur to any home or office. Weight is about 2 pounds, a slender dimension of 48 by 3 by 3 inches and this guarantee that buyers can move with this favorite shaker anytime and anywhere. This product also has no warranty on purchase.
8) S&S Worldwide Rainstick GP1297
This is a nice and effective rattle or shaker percussion instrument which is made to produce and generate flawless rain-falling sounds when turned over. It contains very functional and movable inner particles that cause the sound within the tubular instrument. This percussion rainstick is made by the S&S Worldwide brand and it also features four types of thread attached to the two ends of the rainstick.
Apart from that, each thread has attractive colored feathers on them and together, create a stunning appearance and look. It is an instrument of about 16 inches length and a weight of about 6 pounds to allow for easy or comfortable turn over. Nice product from an uncommon brand and buyers can consider if it ticks their specification.
9) Meinl Percussion 24" Medium Rain Stick RS1R-M
Sound is all that matters with a rainstick just like other percussion instruments and as such Meinl brand offers yet another kind of rainstick made from natural bamboo material. The bamboo offers a good level of sound vibration that helps to produce the undiluted sound of falling rain. It is a medium-size type of rainstick with 24 inches long and can be played by both beginners and professional players.
Perfect in sound but equally amazing and exquisite in looks with the well painted artistic diagrams of various attractive colors that cover the outer surface of the percussion rainstick. This product comes with a 2 – Year warranty on every purchase and it is available for every buyer.
10) Jive Bamboo Rainstick
This is another type of efficient percussion rain stick which is made by Jive brand to offer players an impressive rain-falling sound that is melodious and equally refreshing. This product is a 32 inches long shaker that has a good space for the inner particles to make sounds as they are turning over.
It is a slender instrument with a 2.5 inches diameter and a weight of about 1 pound and all show that the rain stick is easy to hold and move around with. The outer side or surface of this product is an exhibition of artistic design that never fails to capture the admiration of many people as it is being played.
11) Zeckos 40" Rainstick
This is another kind of percussion rain stick made by the Zeckos brand of musical instruments. This rainstick is made of bamboo material and crafted with very attractive hand-printed designs. The percussion rain stick offers a rare and outstanding sound that resembles that of raindrops. It is 40 inches long and it is long enough to contain a lot of particles as inner fillings that collapse to produce the sound.
The rainstick has a lightweight of about 1.6 pounds and this means that together with the curved nature of both ends, this instrument is very convenient to carry, hold and play. The rain stick also comes with a wall hanger.
12) PEARL 60" Hidden Spirit Rainstick
This is a kind of a large shaker and percussion rain stick that is capable of providing desired and quality sound when turned over or played perfectly. It is a percussion instrument for events, concerts and social ceremonies. Made by the Pearl brand of musical instrument, the thin and slender stick is manufactured from bamboo material which is curvy in shape and lengthy with a 60 inches length.
The rainstick has a cool and reserved design on the outside of the rain stick while the inside layer is filled with particles that produce sound when turned over. The rain stick weight is 3 pounds to offer easy, convenient and comfortable carrying and playing, the design is good as decoration for every home.
13) Meinl Percussion Small Rainstick - RS1BK-S
This is another hand printed bamboo percussion rainstick made by the Meinl brand and it stands as arguably the most beautiful among the rainstick models. This is a small or short type with a length of just 16 inches of bamboo material. The bamboo releases an unrivaled sound that matches well with that of a raindrop as desired in many places like a musical concert, at home as a source of meditation and at studios where it calm and soothing.
This instrument has great decorative attributes due to the colorful and pleasantly pretty hand-printed design that is found on the external surface of the rain stick. It is lightweight and therefore very easy to handle and play while the Meinl 2 Year warranty is available on every purchase.
14) Arte Indigena 30" Cactus Rainstick
This is a typical look and appearance of the ancient type of percussion rainstick. It is an important and very effective instrument that is made from cactus material. This rainstick works to give the best of rushing sounds of rain which is due to the turning over of the stick and the collapse of the inner fillings and particles.
Sound is great and therefore useful to soothe and relax people that are stressed and anxious, important as a percussion instrument at school music classes and the concert. The product has a 1.3 pounds weight and about 30 inches long to be convenient and comfortable to move around with. It has a touch of decoration with the colorful threads attached to one end of the rain stick.
15) Nino Percussion 18" Rainstick SRS1-M
This is another type of rainstick percussion instrument that seamlessly combines effectiveness, efficiency, and beauty to players who consider having one. It is a product from Nino, a popular brand known for making musical instruments. This product is made from a synthetic material with inner particles that create a calming and soothing relief for kids at schools or homes.
The product offers so much efficiency and effectiveness even as an instrument for children's music classes with each kid being able to play due to its lightweight of about 1 pound. It is also a beautiful piece as the whole rainstick body is covered with a sunshine design that makes this instrument qualify as an ideal choice for kids of 5 years and above.
16) Tycoon Percussion 1.2 Meter Rainstick
This is a very functional kind of rainstick manufactured by a popular musical instrument brand called Tycoon Percussion. It is made from bamboo and as such ensures and guarantees nice and thrilling sounds when the rainstick is tilted to a particular angle or location. The rainstick is of long with a length of about 49 inches and this provides ample inner spaces for the particles that are inside and collapse to generate the rainstorm sound.
This percussion instrument is lightweight as it weighs just about 3 pounds. It is easy to play as both children and adults are able to enjoy the sounds of a quality rainstick. The outer layer of the rainstick is well painted with diagrams of attractive colors which make the instrument offer decorative value to various homes and places it is placed.
17) NINO Percussion Rainstick WRM1
This is a percussion rainstick in a world of its own as it is made with a unique design and structure. It is a product from the famous Nino brand but it stands out as regards the material used, the design and even the color and appearance. The NINO-WRM1 is made from a very durable hardwood which was structured with rounded edges for harmless usage.
The instrument is 12 inches long and very comfortable to play for both amateur, beginner and professional players. It can be used to teach music classes in schools while the green color that covers the 4 edges are pretty and attractive. Good rain dropping sound and lightweight aids the fun playing of the rainstick.
18) Percussion Plus Rainstick 50 CM
This a medium size kind of rainstick made by the Percussion Plus brand. This product features a good connection with the Peruvian type of rainstick that gives and produces a scintillating sound of rainfall. It has a slightly wider dimension and a length of about 20 inches with an external layer on which artistic drawings and designs that illustrate cultural and traditional heritage is placed.
The drawings are colorful and attractive while the product is great for various categories of rainstick players. The inner particles are efficient and effective in that they can cause and give rain falling sounds by just turning the rainstick over at any of the two ends.
19) Island Wooden 12" Rainstick
Yet another kind of percussion rainstick that is made from bamboo material. It is a product from the Island Wooden brand and very efficient in providing the rain dropping sound of a typical rainstick. It has a length of 12 inches and a considerably wide diameter. The 12 ounces weight makes it easy to carry and hold around anywhere and at any time even as both children and adults are able to play and enjoy the rainstick.
This product is a much-desired type and this is down to the very attractive design and image that was hand-printed on the external surface of the rainstick. The inner space is wide and contains particles that with little displacement, produce a loving rainstorm sound.
20) Lepeuxi Colored Wooden Rainstick
This is a kind of pretty and attractive wooden percussion rainstick made by the Lepeuxi brand. It is made from materials taken from beech wood and it offers very smooth and shiny brown that is harmless and safe to touch by a kid. This product can be used as a toy or an instrument to calm kids and children both at school and homes while it also qualifies as a percussion instrument for the adult.
The attractive colors on the outer surface are loving and match well with the black color of the two ends. It offers a great rain falling sound when turned over and this is what any rainstick player loves. It is about 14 inches in length and 1.8 inches in diameter while it weighs just 5 ounces that signify that this instrument can be carried around anywhere easily and without stress.
Choosing the Best Rainstick
In conclusion, the above-discussed factors and reviews of rainstick products make up a dependable buying guide which every intending owner of rainstick instrument can rely upon to make a perfect buying decision.
2) Arte Indigena
10" Cactus
Rainstick
- Transparent Sealant for Smoother Finish
- Uniquely Gentle & Calming Sound
- Lightweight
- Slender Handle for Small Hand Cozy Playing
1) Africa Heartwood Project 20" Chilean Rainstick
- Sturdy & Durable Construction
- Clear & Dynamic Sound
- Long-Lasting Varnish
- Stain & Water Proof
- Easy to Clean
3) Meinl 60" Hand Painted Native Rainstick
- Outstanding & Durable Bamboo Material
- Soothing & Calming Sound
- Used as Background Sound to Music
- Ideal for Beginners & Professionals
In addition to the factors already discussed, rainstick buyers should endeavor to also take note of the durability of the type they are buying as well as the reviews of people that already bought the product. Reviews of buyers can be gotten on some online stores that allow buyers to leave feedback while you can get physical reviews from neighbors, friends, mates, and colleagues that have at a time bought a rainstick product. All these will be helpful if taken into account.