A 'rainstick' is a long, hollow percussion instrument that can be used to make a variety of sounds, from a gentle rain shower to a thunderstorm. They were originally used by the Aztec people of Central America - and possibly other Indigenous groups around the world - as part of ceremonies to bring about changes in the weather. They're now popularly used in all kinds of music, from rock to classical orchestra.
Rainsticks were traditionally made out of cactus, which is naturally hollow. Once the plant had been dried in the sun, the spines were removed and nailed back inside in a spiral pattern. The hollow was then filled with small stones or dried beans and sealed at both ends.
I've always loved the sound of rainsticks, so we decided to design and make our own instrument out of discarded materials. The first stop was the Reverse Garbage warehouse in Woolloongabba, Brisbane, to find the materials we needed. This place is an absolute treasure trove, packed with interesting and useful things, including fabrics and textiles, glass and ceramics, paper and card, plastics, timber, rubber and foam. The people who work there are always happy to show you around and offer advice on how to overcome the difficulties of your particular project.
We made our rainstick using a cardboard Postpak mailing tube, with caps at both ends. This was filled with small, hard objects - a combination of rice and small rubber discs made the best sound. To slow down the flow of objects inside the tube, we inserted a bendable plastic strip with holes punched through (available from Reverse Garbage as 'black holey strips'). We decorated our rainstick with fabric, vinyl, feathers and wool but it could just as easily have been painted or covered with collage paper.
The rainstick can be played in different ways to make a variety of wonderful sounds. When it's held vertically and flipped over, it makes the sound of falling water, as the objects inside gradually make their way to the bottom. If held horizontally and tilted from side to side, it makes a gentle whooshing sound, like the rolling of the ocean. A harsher, more urgent sound, can be made when the instrument is shaken. It can also be tapped with a stick to make a satisfying 'thwock' or a more gentle 'pitter patter'. The rainstick can be played by anyone and makes a fantastic accompaniment to the guitar.
James Taylor's song 'Fire and Rain', we made a couple of last minute embellishments to our rainstick and included sandpaper and baking paper to mimic the roaring and crackling sounds of fire; so it's a 'fire and rainstick' really...