The tone is the most important accented stroke on the cajón. When using a cajón with a snare string, this stroke produces a short buzzing sound similar to a snare drum. On cajňnes without a snare string, this stroke produces a more wooden sound similar to a rim shot. Beginning with the basic striking position shown in the last chapter, the forearm at the elbow and the hand at the wrist are raised simultaneously. The stroke is correctly made when the stretched-out hand strikes the upper frame of the cajón's corners at about the height of the front of your palm. During the initial contact, keep your fingers straight and slightly angled away from the striking surface. The momentum of the fingers causes them to strike the front panel a split second later and then quickly rebound.
The index finger can be used alone to produce a quieter sound.
