Progressions in F — Cavaquinho

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