Chords in the key of E minor on cavaquinho
The key of E minor has seven diatonic chords: EmEmEmEm, F#°, G, Am, BmBmBmBm, C and D. As sevenths: Em7Em7Em7Em7, F#m7b5, Gmaj7Gmaj7Gmaj7Gmaj7, Am7Am7Am7Am7, Bm7Bm7Bm7Bm7, Cmaj7Cmaj7Cmaj7Cmaj7 and D7D7D7D7. They come from the E natural minor scale, E, F#, G, A, B, C and D, one on each note. On cavaquinho, the shapes below are the seventh chords of every degree, and the tonic one has E 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 E 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.