Clave is a simple Cuban folk percussion instrument (idiophone) of African origin: two sticks made of hard wood, with which the basic rhythm of the ensemble is set. The musician playing the clave holds one of the sticks in his hand so that the palm forms a kind of resonator, and with the other stick he strikes the first rhythmically, producing clear sounds of a high tone. The clave can be used to perform various rhythmic patterns; however, it is mainly used to perform the eponymous clave rhythm, which is known in several variations: guaguancó clave, son clave, colombian clave, Brazilian clave, etc.