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 & FretReharmonize — Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize the progression in a tap · see it in Chord & Fret
Learn each chord of the trip
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.