The 7 Best Cajon Pedals for All Budgets (2024)
The Cajon is one of the oldest forms of percussion in the world. However, its use as a portable alternative to a drum set has sparked a lot of demand for Cajon pedals.
Pedals not only make it easier for you to get a better thud sound from your instrument but also keep your hand free so that you can incorporate other accessories into your playing. So, for any Cajon player, having the right pedal is almost a necessity.
My top pick is the Meinl Percussion TMSTCP Direct Drive Cajon Pedal. A very comfortable and natural feeling Cajon pedal.
My budget pick is the Gibraltar G3GCP Cajon Pedal with Mount. A nice pedal when you’re on a budget.
Contents
- The 7 Best Cajon Pedals (2024)
- 1. Meinl Percussion TMSTCP Direct Drive
- 2. Gibraltar G3GCP Cajon Pedal
- 3. DW 5000 Series Cajon Pedal DWCP5000CJ
- 4. ChromaCast CC-PS-DDCPDL Pro Series Direct Drive Cajon Pedal
- 5. Latin Percussion LP1500
- 6. DG De Gregorio Cajon Pedal Remote
- 7. DW DWCP5000CJDL
- Buyer’s Guide
- Types of Cajon Pedals
- Can you use any other pedal for your Cajon?
- How do you position the Cajon pedal?
- What types of beaters do you use for a Cajon pedal?
- Verdict
The 7 Best Cajon Pedals (2024)
Let’s compare these in more detail.
1. Meinl Percussion TMSTCP Direct Drive
The Meinl TMSTCP Direct-Drive is a very nice Cajon pedal whether it’s your first time buying one or you’re a seasoned pro. It has a natural feel and a seamless response which is always a plus with any pedal.
Pros
- Direct-drive mechanism
- No delay in response
- Soft beater for a warmer sound
- Built to last
Cons
- Not much!
What makes this pedal different is its direct drive system. Most Cajon pedals are cable-driven. This can leave some room for a delayed response or a not-so-smooth playing experience.
So, not only does the cable-free mechanism makes for a better playing experience, but it’s also quite durable.
The footboard has a slight curve to it so that your foot sets nicely. You can also adjust the spring tension to your liking.
| Drive System | Direct Drive |
| Connection Type | Shaft |
The beater on this pedal is a soft one. As such, it brings out a softer, warmer tone from your Cajon without putting on the wear and tear.
The pedal goes well with regular-sized cajons. However, if you have a smaller one, you might face installment issues.
That said, this is a great Cajon pedal that comes at an affordable price, allows you to play fast and accurately, all the while lasting a good amount of time.
2. Gibraltar G3GCP Cajon Pedal
If you’re much better accustomed to a traditional kick pedal and don’t want to experiment with a curved bar like in the previous pedal, then the Gibraltar G3GCP Cajon pedal is a nice option to consider.
The design of this pedal lets you play your Cajon pretty much exactly like you’d play your bass drum. The beater and the pedal are connected remotely through a cable. This allows you to place your setup however you like it.
Pros
- Strap drive system
- Mounting hardware included
- Easy to adjust and play
Cons
- The cable is a bit light
This Cajon pedal is much better suited to low-volume music and gigs because of its flattish beater. It is the same quality that helps it produce a sound like you’re using your hands. Full and smooth.
This pedal offers good control so you can play comfortably. The cable is fixed which is great for keeping it in place. The cam arms, however, are fully adjustable.
| Drive System | Strap Drive |
| Connection Type | Cable |
The Gibraltar G3GCP Cajon Pedal is a great option for cajon players or for drummers who play in low-volume gigs a lot. It also comes at a moderate price, making it a good choice.
3. DW 5000 Series Cajon Pedal DWCP5000CJ
DW’s 5000 Series pedals are already one of the best drum pedals on the market today. Suffice to say, the DW 5000CJ pedal succeeds in living up to its reputation. It’s a great pedal for you to sit on your Cajon and play it with your feet while your hands are set free to do anything.
Pros
- Super quick and responsive
- Soft beater for a warmer sound
- Durable Delta ball-bearing hinge
The DW 5000CJ uses a Pivot Drive system. And it’s very smooth and responsive, giving you the ultimate playing experience. The Delta ball-bearing hinge is a trademark of the 5000 series and is built to last.
The beater on this pedal is quite soft which means you get a nice, full sound of the bass that you would get from your hand. The beater hub tension can be adjusted to your comfort as well.
| Drive System | Direct Drive |
| Connection Type | Cable |
The DWCP5000CJ comes at a higher cost than many other pedals on this list, but that’s because it is one of the top-rated Cajon pedals out there.
4. ChromaCast CC-PS-DDCPDL Pro Series Direct Drive Cajon Pedal
The ChromaCast CC-PS-DDCPDL Pro Series Direct-Drive is a pedal you want to use if you play at higher tempos. And you can thank the Direct-drive steel rod connection bar and beater system for that.
The pedal offers an instant response, nice power, and feels like the real deal with each note. There’s no lag because of the steel shaft drive mechanism. The pedal itself has a steel swing system that allows you to play at higher speeds. Just like you do use your drum kick pedal.
Pros
- Good for faster playing
- Sturdy hardware
The hardware on the pedal is fairly sturdy. There is a T-bar attached to the pedal system to keep your Cajon in place. There are also steel base plates with velcro on them to prevent slipping.
| Drive System | Direct Drive |
| Connection Type | Shaft |
The pedal is ideal for Cajons up to 14” high. It’s easily adjustable according to your needs as well. You can do that with a drum key and an Allen wrench, which are included with the pedal.
The Latin Percussion LP1500 Cajon pedal is another well-made pedal that lets you play your Cajon like a bass drum while keeping your hands free. This is great for drummers who want to retain the feel of their kick drum or want to play the Cajon as their kick drum in a low-volume setting.
The pedal uses a cable to attach the pedal to the beater system. Thus, you can adjust the pedal to wherever your foot feels at home.
Pros
- 3-foot long cable
- Unique beater to produce natural sounds
- Fits well with standard sizes
The beater is flat and long. Quite unique in its look, but familiar in its sound. It produces a warm, fuller sound of the Cajon, replicating your palm. You can also adjust the tension on the beater,
It sizes up really neatly to most standard-sized Cajons. So, you’re good to go if your Cajon fits the bill.
| Drive System | NA |
| Connection Type | Cable |
The LP1500 Cajon pedal is a reliable cable-driven accessory that most Cajon players should consider.
6. DG De Gregorio Cajon Pedal Remote
The DG De Gregorio Cajon Pedal is a remote pedal that lets you convert your Cajon into practically a bass drum. That’s because it’s a chain-driven pedal.
It’s also a direct drive pedal which means there’s no cable connecting the pedal and the beater. So, all the action happens in real-time and there is no latency in your playing whatsoever. It’s surprisingly quick for a Cajon pedal.
Pros
- Super-fast response
- Very well built
- It’s an ambidextrous pedal
One of the best qualities of this pedal is that it’s ambidextrous. This means you can switch your playing feet as you like. All you have to do is adjust the pedal.
It’s also built like a tank. Thus, you can tour, play in a studio, or at home and this will be by your side for a long time.
The beater on this pedal is a flat and soft one, made of foam rubber. This helps in emulating the palm feel and sound from your Cajon.
| Drive System | Chain Driven |
| Connection Type | Shaft (Remote) |
Although on the more expensive side of this list, the DG De Gregorio Cajon Pedal justifies its price given that it’s a solid pedal in both build and application.
7. DW DWCP5000CJDL
The DWCP5000CJDL is another DW 5000 series Cajon pedal on the list. The difference between this pedal and the earlier one on the list is that this one uses the direct linkage system to connect the pedal with the beater.
This gives the pedal a much better response and allows you to play at higher speeds. Also, it’s easier to manipulate your power on the Cajon.
Pros
- Seamless response
- Precise and powerful playing
- Customizable settings
Another thing that this pedal has going for itself is it adapts to your comfort zone instead of the other way around. There are three linkage lengths that you can choose from.
It has a two-way beater. You can either use the flat surface or the curved one, depending on what tone you want from your Cajon. You can also adjust the spring tension.
| Drive System | Direct Drive |
| Connection Type | Shaft |
The DWCP5000CJDL is a very nice Cajon pedal from the industry leaders, DW.
Buyer’s Guide
It’s not every day that you buy a Cajon pedal. So when you do buy one, you want to make sure that you have the right knowledge to buy the right one for you.
That’s why I’m sharing a few tips that might make the whole decision process easier for you.
Types of Cajon Pedals
When you’re shopping for Cajon pedals, you’re most likely to come across three kinds of pedals. Chain-driven, cable-driven, and direct-driven.
Chain drive is what you’ll see in bass pedals. The footboard uses a chain system to affect the beater. Chain drives are quite sturdy but heavy. They can be hard to carry around and start to squeak after a while.
Direct drive is a system where the footboard and the beater are connected by a shaft. So, there’s one motion instead of individual parts forming a chain. Direct drive pedals are probably the way to go as they give you better control and speed. They’re lightweight pedals as well.
Cable drive pedals use a cable to act as a liaison between the footboard and the beater. While lightweight and better for positioning, they sacrifice durability and speed. The cables are fragile and provide room for latency.
Can you use any other pedal for your Cajon?
If you’re already a drummer and well-acclimated to your standard kick pedal, you must be tempted to use your regular kick pedal for your Cajon. However, that might limit your use of the Cajon. Your instrument will be rendered a bass drum.
You have to keep in mind that Cajon pedals are designed in such a way that you can use your foot all the while enabling both of your hands to play that Cajon along with any other accessory.
Along with that, most kick drum pedals are much harder than Cajon beaters. So, you may also risk damaging your Cajon.
How do you position the Cajon pedal?
Positioning the Cajon pedal is a straightforward deal. But first, you have to decide whether you’re comfortable playing with your heel or toes.
If you’re playing with your heel, then the pedal should face you. If toes, then the pedal should face away from you.
As far as the length of the cable or the shaft, you can fight the right one with a little trial and error.
What types of beaters do you use for a Cajon pedal?
Cajon beaters come in different shapes and sizes and it’s best to try out a few before settling on one.
Ideally, you want a softer material on the head as a harder one can impede the wear and tear on the Cajon. Then, the larger the contact area, the more it captures the palm feel, and the fuller your Cajon sounds.
You also want a beater that will reach the center of your Cajon as that is where the sweet spot of your instrument is located.
Verdict
So, there you have it. I’ve listed out my top 7 Cajon pedals. All of them are really good pedals in their own right. You just have to figure out which one suits your needs the best. Whether you are looking for a more affordable or a more pricey option, you can find both on the list.
There are also a few things to look out for when considering buying a Cajon pedal. I’ve included those in the buyer’s guide which I hope you’ll find helpful.
