Rock — Cavaquinho

In pop, rock or blues the cavaquinho is an unusual guest; it adds a bright, chopping rhythm layer, but it can't cover the low end a band expects. Attitude, volume, and a driving pulse: rock cuts straight to the point, with heavy accents on beats two and four that make your head nod on its own. Here you'll find the classic Mixolydian — in practice, a major sound with a lowered seventh that gives the style its gritty edge — and the blues frame, the chord skeleton inherited from the blues.

Progressions

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Updated July 9, 2026