Cuíca is a Brazilian friction drum often used in Samba music. A narrow bamboo stick is attached to the underside of the drum head.

To play the cuíca, the percussionist rubs the stick with a wet cloth held in one hand, while pressing with the thumb of the other hand on the skin of the drum, near the place where the stick is attached. Rubbing the cloth up and down the stick creates different sounds, and the pitch is increased or decreased by changing the pressure on the thumb.

The sound of cuíca has a comical effect and is said to resemble monkey laughter.