Chord and FretSamba · ciclo de quintas — Cavaquinho
What is the Samba · ciclo de quintas progression?
The Samba · ciclo de quintas progression is GmGmGmGm → CmCmCmCm → F → A# (vi – ii – V – I), in the key of Bb. Read as harmonic function it moves tonic → subdominant → dominant → tonic, arriving home on a cadence. Play one chord per bar and let it loop.
Play any song you love and it does this: leaves home, takes a walk, and at the right moment somebody yells "come back!". This progression is that route, road sign by road sign: Gm (vi, home) → Cm (ii, the stroll) → F (V, time to come back) → A# (I, home). Hit play and follow with your finger on the names — when you reach the chord marked "time to come back", notice your own body waiting for A# — 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 F.
Cadences — Harmony comes to rest here — hear every cadence type and train your ear · see it in Chord and Fret
Save this progression in Chord and FretReharmonize — Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize the progression in a tap · open in Chord and Fret
Learn each chord of the trip
This is one shape of A#. In Chord and Fret, you open every position of all 4 chords in this progression along the neck — on any instrument, and hear each one. Open in Chord and Fret →
Metronome — Drill this change in time, with tap tempo and subdivisions · use it in Chord and Fret
If you want to keep exploring, the Chord and Fret app picks up right here, with every variation of this chord one tap away. On Google Play.