Cavaquinho

The cavaquinho is a musical instrument of Portuguese origin with four plucked strings resembling a small guitar. It can be found in different forms from Madeira to the Azores, through Brazil, and even as far as Hawaii, where it gives rise to the ukulele. This stringed instrument has become very widespread in Brazil, where it is sometimes called cavaco (cavaquinho is the diminutive). Today, it is fully integrated into Brazilian music, particularly the samba carioca, chorinho or samba de Enredo.

Many details make this instrument unique in the world: a typical shape, the high frequency of notes it produces, the strumming pattern used, etc. The Cavaquinho is the most representative stringed instrument of the culture of music in Brazil. A four-stringed instrument that has belonged to the Brazilian culture for generations now, with a rich culture behind it. The instrument is used in most of the folk songs know by generations of Brazilians.

Festivities in Brazil are abundant, and this instrument makes part of most of them. It is mandatory to use a Cavaquinho in Samba music, choros, etc. Carnivals in Brazil always showcase a Cavaquinho player as part of the roaster of musicians playing at every corner.