Chord & FretForró · I-IV-V simples — Cavaquinho
What is the Forró · I-IV-V simples progression?
The Forró · I-IV-V simples progression is A → D → E (I – IV – V), in the key of A. Read as harmonic function it moves tonic → subdominant → dominant, arriving home on a cadence. Play one chord per bar and let it loop.
Good music works like a good walk: you leave, get a little lost on purpose, and come back. The map of this one: A (I, home) → D (IV, the stroll) → E (V, time to come back). Press play and follow along — at the "time to come back" chord, notice the physical urge to hear A again — the home chord.
Cavaquinho
The cavaquinho is a small, bright four-string with no low bass, so it fills the upper-middle range and leaves the deep notes to others. This is the cavaquinho's true home: in samba, choro and pagode it is the rhythmic and harmonic center, driving the groove with bright, percussive chords. Its home chord A keeps its lowest note on E.
Cadences — Harmony comes to rest here — hear every cadence type and train your ear · see it in Chord & Fret
Save this progression in Chord & FretReharmonize — Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize the progression in a tap · use it in Chord & Fret
Learn each chord of the trip
This is one shape of A. In Chord & Fret, you open every position of all 3 chords in this progression along the neck — on any instrument, and hear each one. Open in Chord & Fret →
Metronome — Drill this change in time, with tap tempo and subdivisions · try it in Chord & Fret
If you want to keep exploring, the Chord & Fret app picks up from here, every variation one tap away — shortly on your phone.