Cavaquinho Course

Lesson 1 • Anatomy of the Instrument

Identifies every structural component and explains its acoustic function. Provides vocabulary students use throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Tuning Systems and String Types

Covers standard D-G-B-D tuning and common alternatives, plus string material choices. Students tune accurately by ear and with a tuner.

Lesson 3 • Care and Maintenance Basics

Teaches cleaning, humidity control, and string replacement to protect the instrument. Routine maintenance habits extend instrument life and preserve tone.

Lesson 4 • Proper Posture and Instrument Hold

Establishes ergonomic sitting and standing positions to prevent injury. Correct posture is the physical foundation for all techniques ahead.

Lesson 1 • Tremolo and Rasgueado Introduction

Introduces rapid repetitive strokes used in Brazilian and Iberian styles. Early exposure builds the muscle memory refined in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Downstroke and Upstroke Basics

Introduces isolated downstrokes and upstrokes with attention to evenness. These strokes are the building blocks of all rhythmic patterns.

Lesson 3 • Dynamic Control and Tone Shaping

Teaches volume variation and tonal color through attack angle and position. Students match dynamics to musical context from the start.

Lesson 4 • Basic Strumming Patterns

Applies downstrokes and upstrokes to common 2/4 and 4/4 patterns. Students develop rhythmic consistency essential for ensemble playing.

Lesson 1 • Reading Chord Diagrams and Tablature

Teaches chord diagram notation and basic tablature reading specific to cavaquinho. Students decode written resources independently from this point forward.

Lesson 2 • Open Major Chords

Introduces G, D, A, and C major open chords in standard tuning. These chords cover the most common keys in Brazilian popular music.

Lesson 3 • Fretting Hand Mechanics

Covers fingertip placement, thumb position, and knuckle arch for clean notes. Correct mechanics prevent injury and enable chord clarity.

Lesson 4 • Open Minor and Dominant Chords

Adds Em, Am, Dm, and dominant seventh shapes to the student's vocabulary. Minor and seventh chords are essential for choro and samba harmony.

Lesson 1 • Major Scale Construction

Explains whole-step and half-step intervals that build the major scale. Students derive scales in any key without memorizing each separately.

Lesson 2 • Notes on the Fretboard

Maps all natural and chromatic notes across the four strings. Fretboard knowledge accelerates chord and scale learning in every key.

Lesson 3 • Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths

Introduces key signatures and their relationship on the circle of fifths. Students identify related keys and predict chord progressions efficiently.

Lesson 4 • Diatonic Chord Progressions

Assigns Roman numeral functions to chords within a key. Students recognize I-IV-V-I and ii-V-I patterns common in choro and samba.

Lesson 1 • Understanding Brazilian Rhythm Concepts

Explains syncopation, the clave feel, and subdivision in Brazilian music. This conceptual grounding prevents mechanical playing and builds authentic groove.

Lesson 2 • Baiao and Frevo Rhythmic Patterns

Introduces northeastern Brazilian baiao and the fast frevo feel. Expanding rhythmic vocabulary prepares students for diverse repertoire.

Lesson 3 • Samba Strumming Patterns

Teaches the characteristic samba batida with its syncopated upstrokes. Students internalize the pattern at slow, medium, and performance tempos.

Lesson 4 • Choro Rhythmic Accompaniment

Covers the choro baixaria-style rhythmic role and chord voicing choices. Students support a melody instrument as a harmonic rhythm section.

Lesson 1 • Movable Chord Shapes

Converts open chord shapes into movable forms playable at any fret. Students transpose any chord instantly by sliding the shape up or down.

Lesson 2 • Introduction to Barre Chords

Teaches full and partial barre technique with correct index-finger pressure. Barre chords unlock every key without retuning or using a capo.

Lesson 3 • Seventh and Extended Chord Voicings

Adds major seventh, minor seventh, and ninth chord voicings to the palette. Extended chords are essential for choro and bossa nova harmonic color.

Lesson 4 • Chord Melody Basics

Combines melody notes with chord voicings to create self-contained arrangements. Students perform simple tunes without needing a separate melody instrument.

Lesson 1 • Pentatonic and Blues Scales

Introduces major and minor pentatonic scales and the blues scale on cavaquinho. These scales provide an accessible entry point into melodic improvisation.

Lesson 2 • Natural Minor and Dorian Mode

Covers the natural minor scale and the Dorian mode for minor-key soloing. Dorian is widely used in Brazilian and Latin jazz improvisation.

Lesson 3 • Phrasing and Melodic Development

Develops call-and-response phrasing, motif repetition, and melodic variation. Musical phrasing separates technical playing from expressive performance.

Lesson 4 • Improvising over Choro Progressions

Applies scales and arpeggios to authentic choro chord progressions. Students solo over backing tracks, integrating all prior melodic concepts.

Lesson 1 • Self-Assessment and Practice Planning

Teaches students to diagnose weaknesses and design targeted practice sessions. Autonomous practice planning sustains progress beyond the course.

Lesson 2 • Samba and Popular Song Repertoire

Covers accompaniment and solo arrangements of classic samba and popular songs. Students demonstrate versatility across the most common performance contexts.

Lesson 3 • Choro Repertoire Study

Guides students through two complete choro pieces at beginner-intermediate level. Authentic repertoire applies rhythm, harmony, and melody skills together.

Lesson 4 • Learning and Memorizing Pieces

Presents systematic methods for learning, sectioning, and memorizing full songs. Efficient learning strategies reduce practice time and improve retention.