The rainstick is a percussion instrument that belongs to the idiophone family. It is a wooden tube, closed at both ends, filled with granules, sand, or stones. As the filler moves through the internal passages, it mimics the sound of water. The instrument is tilted quickly or slowly by 180 degrees, rotated around its axis, or used like a shaker. Different sounds are produced depending on the angle and speed of movement.

The origin of the rainstick traces back to Chile and Peru, where the instrument was made from the stems of long cacti. The spines were cut and used as spiral partitions inside, while dried seeds served as the filler. The inhabitants of arid regions in Latin America considered the rainstick "the voice of nature," believing that playing the "rain stick" helped them connect with higher powers that would send life-giving rain to the earth, helping them avoid drought and famine.

In the 1970s, tourists fascinated by the unique instrument brought it back to their homelands as souvenirs. Over time, the rainstick found its way into the musical culture of various countries.