The Cavaquinho is a stringed instrument, primarily used in folk music from Brazil, like Samba and Choro. Many details make this instrument unique in the world: a typical shape, the high frequency of notes it produces, the strumming pattern used, etc.
The Cavaquinho is the most representative stringed instrument of the culture of music in Brazil. A four-stringed instrument that has belonged to the Brazilian culture for generations now, with a rich culture behind it. The instrument is used in most of the folk songs known by generations of Brazilians.
Festivities in Brazil are abundant, and this instrument makes part of most of them. Using a Cavaquinho in Samba music, choros is mandatory. Carnivals in Brazil always showcase a Cavaquinho player as part of the roaster of musicians playing at every corner.
The Cavaco has a body shape with curves similar to a guitar and uses metal strings. But curiously, only uses four strings like a Cuatro or a Ukulele. The traditional Cavaco is built with between 17 to 19 frets, which are enough to play traditional repertoires.
Moreover, some more sophisticated Cavaquinhos built by luthiers tend to have much longer fingerboards. Some even reach the sound hole and therefore have more frets. These variations are adapting the contemporary musical diversity and are suited for more solo music styles.
A traditional Cavaco
Here you will see a few pictures of a Cavaco that we have sold at our TuCuatro musical instrument store. A Rozini Cavaco, one of the brands that we highly recommend. if you’re in the pursuit of purchasing an instrument for yourself, give it a try!
Pictures shown are for a Cavaco Rozini Electroacoustic
More details about the Cavaquinho
There are several similarities between a Cavaquinho and a Guitar. The shape of both instruments, for example. Also, the fact that both use metal strings. The notable difference would be with respect to the size of frets.
The frets at the bottom of the fretboard of a Cavaco are unusually small and difficult to play. Thus, most of Cavaquinho enthusiasts and beginners will only use the first 3 to 5 frets of the fretboard.
So not to worry, for in this course we will be making use only of the first frets until. You’ll learn how to play basic chords in our basic chords progression lesson, like the following ones:
A – E7 – D
You’ll also be learning a few basic strumming techniques and genres of Brazilian music.
Courses at TuCuatro are free, so that you can start right now! As long as you have a Cavaquinho, you’re all set to start learning at TuCuatro.
If you would like to know more about the Cavaquinho, visit the Cavaquinho’s Wikipedia page. Wiki is an excellent source of information where you can learn more about this fascinating instrument.
Otherwise, feel free to continue through these lessons. We have a lot of material for the Cavaquinho that you’ll surely enjoy!
Do you need a Cavaquinho?
If you still don’t have the instrument and you would like to purchase it, we invite you to visit our online store, where you will find a variety of Cavaquinhos available. Shipping of the instrument is available to your address anywhere in the world:
