Progressions in B — Cavaquinho

B major harmonises to B – C#m – D#m – E – F# – G#m – A#°; B minor to Bm – C#° – D – Em – F#m – G – A. Each chord links to its Cavaquinho voicings, so a set in B becomes a short list of shapes before the roda ever starts playing.

Most of what a cavaquinho plays in a roda lives on two or three of these chords at a time — a samba turnaround loops, it does not wander. Choose the pair the tune leans on, pick a batida cell to chop them with, and let the repetition carry the rest.