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.