Jawbone (instrument)

The quijada [charrasga, or jawbone in English] is a traditional Latin percussion instrument traditionally made of the jawbone of either a mule, horse, or donkey. The jawbone is cleaned of tissue and dried to make the teeth loose and act as a rattle. To play, a musician holds one end in one hand and strikes the other with either a stick or their hand; this causes the teeth to rattle against the bone creating a loud, untuned sound, specific to this instrument. It is used in music in most of Latin America, including Mexico, Peru, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Cuba.