The cabasa is a small percussion instrument consisting of chains of beads wrapped around a cylinder affixed to a handle, like so:
\+-----------------+/
|#################|
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
|#################|
/+-----------------+\
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
\___/
The 'O's are the
beads, and the '#'s represent the rough metal surface of the cylinder.
The cabasa is played by holding the side of the cylinder in one hand, while rotating it via the handle with the other. The beads rubbing up against the cylinder make a rough whooshing sound.
The cabasa, also known as the cabeza, most often appears in Latin and Jazz music.