Progressions in G# — Cavaquinho

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