Artcelsior and King chocalhos and rocars have a loud and chunky sound that carries well over the massed percussion of a Brazilian samba band, or any type of Brazilian street percussion. These chocalhos are compact and more easy to control than other makes on the market, and they have a much swishier and less tinkly sound.

Izzo chocalhos are also compact and easy to control, with a solid chunky sound. They are not quite as loud as the Artcelsior ones.

The chocalho has been described by the Times of London as a cross between an abacus and a tambourine.

The chocalho is a very important element in the flavour of a bateria, and also has an important function in helping the caixas to sustain the rhythm. In the old days samba schools used ganzas,but these are too quiet to be heard over a modern samba school bateria, and chocalhos are now used in their place.

Some Rio samba schools [parade with one giant chocalho as well as 20 - 30 smaller ones. You can buy an extra large chocalho from TDSounds, and also an extra small one.