Chácaras

Chácaras are a type of castanets from the Canary Islands.

[1] Chácaras are used in the traditional music of the islands of El Hierro and La Gomera, the latter being bigger than the hands of the player.

The macho (male) chácara, with a deeper sound, held in one hand, sets the rhythm, and the hembra (female) chácara, in the other hand, is the one that chimes.

[2] In the other islands there are similar smaller instruments, but they are called castañuelas (castanets).

Despite not appearing in the archaeological record, etymological analysis suggests a pre-colonial Guanche origin for this instrument, its name possibly related to Berber words such as šakar, meaning "hoof".