Progressions in E — Cavaquinho

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