In a musical instrument of the cabasa type having a substantially cylindrical hollow main body with a cover plate, and base plate, and a handle connected to the base plate, wherein between the cover plate and base plate along the outer surface of the main body beaded-string-like sounding bodies are arranged extending in the circumferential direction, which, when the main body is rhythmically shaken, by their movement against each other and relative to the surface of the main body, generate a tone, provision is made that the cover plate and/or the base plate are provided with openings.