Chords in the key of C minor on cavaquinho
The key of C minor has seven diatonic chords: CmCmCmCm, D°, Eb, FmFmFmFm, GmGmGmGm, Ab and Bb. As sevenths: Cm7Cm7Cm7Cm7, Dm7b5, Ebmaj7Ebmaj7Ebmaj7Ebmaj7, Fm7Fm7Fm7Fm7, Gm7Gm7Gm7Gm7, Abmaj7Abmaj7Abmaj7Abmaj7 and Bb7Bb7Bb7Bb7. They come from the C natural minor scale, C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab and Bb, one on each note. On cavaquinho, the shapes below are the seventh chords of every degree, and the tonic one has Eb 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 C 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.