Samba — Cavaquinho

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. At the heart of Brazilian music, samba pairs a syncopated sway — that is, accents landing off the strong beat — with rich harmonies that invite you to sing along. On this page you'll explore the style's classic progressions: the circle of fifths and the ii-V-I, which simply means a chord sequence that builds tension and resolves onto the home chord.

Grooves

Progressions

My Chords & Scales — Build the genre's repertoire — save and organize in the Notebook · use it in Chord & Fret

Updated July 9, 2026