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Chord & Fret

Pagode · subida cromática — Cavaquinho

What is the Pagode · subida cromática progression?

The Pagode · subida cromática progression is Cm → F → A# (ii – V – I), in the key of Bb. Read as harmonic function it moves subdominant → dominant → tonic, arriving home on a cadence. Play one chord per bar and let it loop.

Good music works like a good walk: you leave, get a little lost on purpose, and come back. The map of this one: Cm (ii, the stroll) → F (V, time to come back) → A# (I, home). Press play and follow along — at the "time to come back" chord, notice the physical urge to hear A# again — the home chord.

Cavaquinho

Its chords sound tight and punchy; instead of holding long shapes, it keeps the beat moving with short, repeated strums. This is the cavaquinho's true home: in samba, choro and pagode it is the rhythmic and harmonic center, driving the groove with bright, percussive chords. Its home chord A# keeps its lowest note on F.

Cadences — Harmony comes to rest here — hear every cadence type and train your ear · try it in Chord & Fret

Save this progression in Chord & Fret

Reharmonize — Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize the progression in a tap · see it in Chord & Fret

Learn each chord of the trip

Cm · F · A#

A#, 3 3 3 3A#1111FA#DF

This is one shape of A#. In Chord & Fret, you open every position of all 3 chords in this progression along the neck — on any instrument, and hear each one. Open in Chord & Fret →

Metronome — Drill this change in time, with tap tempo and subdivisions · use it in Chord & Fret

If this scale won you over, the Chord & Fret app plays it along with you — any key, any tuning. Look it up on the stores.