LIST of MUSICAL instruments from Brazil

The musical instruments they are objects, tools that we use for a purpose. Although each one is designed with a specific purpose, it is very fascinating to see the different uses that can be given to them. That ability to take something existing and adapt it to our individuality or culture is precisely one of the most essential parts of art and creativity. In this lesson from a TEACHER we will talk about the musical instruments of Brazil, a South American country rich in rhythm, energy, life and passion for artistic expression.

Brazil is a South American country that has given the world wonderful gifts in music and colorful festivities of joy and jubilation such as carnival. Brazil is the cradle of genres like bossa nova, samba and choro, styles that present unique qualities and of great rhythmic richness.

In large part, this wealth is due to the cultural diversity of Brazil and to the contributions of the indigenous community (Native Americans) and the Afro-Brazilian community (of origin African) that constitutes a large part of the elements in folk music, within which we find the genres of

Marcatú, Afoxé, Suddenly and Capoeira, a martial art that is never practiced without the accompaniment of music. Outside of the folkloric sphere, Brazil has a wide variety of music, ranging from classical to jazz to popular music.

Music constitutes a crucial part of Brazilian festivities and ceremonies, related to religion, nature, and the joy of living itself.

So that you can better know the main musical instruments of Brazil, here is a list with the most outstanding of them all.

Berimbau

It's a instrument of African origin and is a crucial part of the music performed for the capoeira. It belongs to the category of percussion instruments and consists of a bow made of wood approximately 1.4 meters long, a tensioned steel string and a gourd. The berimbau is played with a wooden stick that functions as a bow, called stick. The string is not the only part of the berimbau that produces sound, but several of its parts serve a function.

Atabaque

The atabaque is another of the musical instruments of Brazil. It is a drum of Afro-Brazilian origin. There are 3 different types of atabaque that vary mainly in size and therefore in tone. The largest is called Rum, the medium Rum-Pi and the smallest is called You. These drums are made with calfskin for the taut head and use metal rings that are linked with taut string, to adjust the tuning of the drum.

Cavaquinho

Pronounced "cavaquiño", it is a plucked string instrument similar to the guitar but much smaller, almost like a ukulele. The cavaquinhos are made of wood and have 4 strings. This instrument is characteristically used to interpret the music of the Samba and the Chorino.

Pandeiro

It is a small tambourine, like a tambourine that is held with one hand to be beaten with the other. The tone of the pandeiro can be adjusted by releasing or tightening more the tension of the membrane that it has sustained by a frame generally made of wood and also has metal bells that produce sounds with movement. The pandeiro combines hand techniques, creating patterns using the thumb, fingertips, and the palm of the hand. This instrument is typical in the Brazilian styles of the samba, choro, coco and capoeira.

Alfaia

It is another of the most outstanding Brazilian musical instruments. A type of wooden drum, specifically from Macaiba, with the same system as the atabaque, with skin of animal origin stretched with ropes. The Alfaia has a heavy and deep sound, used in the folk rhythms of the dances of Ciranda, Marcatu and Coco-de-roda.

The Ganza

Is another one percussion instrument of African origin with a cylindrical shape and is produced with plastic, metal or made by hand with wicker (solid vegetable fibers that can be woven to create furniture, baskets and other objects). The ganza is full of beads, metallic marbles and small stones among others, which make it a rattle-like instrument. It is mainly used for playing samba.

The Repinique

It is a double-sided drum, sharply tuned so that it can stand out from the rest of the instruments in a grouping. In Rio style samba, it is played with a wooden stick and in Bahia samba it is played with 2.

The Shekere

It is an instrument originated in West Africa that consists of many beads intertwined with each other and that constitute a network that covers a gourd. The shekere is used as a rattle, shaken or struck with the hands. The sound of the instrument always varies, as it is made with natural elements that change in shape and size. For its manufacture, the pumpkin goes through a drying process, after removing its contents and the seeds, then it is filed and sometimes painted.

These are just some of the instruments that we find in Brazil. We must bear in mind that the range of styles in this country is wide and the variations that we find in their music are too. Now that you know more about musical instruments from Brazil, you can dedicate yourself to looking for them to investigate them more closely and see them in action.