Progressions in C — Cavaquinho

C major harmonises to C – Dm – Em – F – G – Am – B°; C minor to Cm – D° – D# – Fm – Gm – G# – A#. Each chord links to its Cavaquinho voicings, so a set in C 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.