Samba — Ukulele

Brazilian styles are not the ukulele's home turf: it can carry a gentle bossa nova, but the percussive drive of samba, choro and pagode asks for more bite and low-end punch than its soft nylon strings can give. 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.

Progressions

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Updated July 9, 2026