Chords in the key of B minor on cavaquinho
The key of B minor has seven diatonic chords: BmBmBmBm, C#°, D, EmEmEmEm, F#mF#mF#mF#m, G and A. As sevenths: Bm7Bm7Bm7Bm7, C#m7b5, Dmaj7Dmaj7Dmaj7Dmaj7, Em7Em7Em7Em7, F#m7F#m7F#m7F#m7, Gmaj7Gmaj7Gmaj7Gmaj7 and A7A7A7A7. They come from the B natural minor scale, B, C#, D, E, F#, G and A, one on each note. On cavaquinho, the shapes below are the seventh chords of every degree, and the tonic one has F# in the bass.
On the cavaquinho, four steel strings tuned D–G–B–D pack the chord into a small, bright space — every finger counts. Its four steel strings give a bright, sharp attack that cuts through the mix and drives the beat.
Seventh chords in B minor on cavaquinho
These are the chords of the natural minor scale. In practice the v often becomes V (major) or V7, borrowed from the harmonic minor, to create the leading tone that pulls back to the tonic.