Progressions in D — Cavaquinho

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