Brazilian percussion instruments

Overview about percussion instruments usually used in some styles of brazilian music, like samba batucada, samba-reggae, pagode...

Agogo

The agogo (bell) is used in practically all Brazilian music. The agogo is used to play basic patterns, but it is also an excellent solo instrument. The agogo consists of two or three bells of different sizes, which produce sounds of different pitches. The sound made by striking a wooden stick against the bells, produces an upper and lower tone.

Apito

The apito or samba whistle is used in samba rhythms and other Brazilian music styles. Other than with a regular 1-tone whistle, the apito makes it possible to create three tones. Besides the basic tone, two extra tones can be produced by placing fingers on and off two side holes. The apito plays an important role; with the apito the band and section leaders create various signals used to organize the bateria.

Caixa

The caixa is the Brazilian snare drum. It is played in much the same way as a western snare, but the caixa has a much more characteristic sound. In samba schools the caixa's lay down the constant swinging groove. Every samba school has its own specific caixa pattern, and an experienced listener can recognise the samba school even before he sees the bateria.

Chocalho

The chocalho or samba shaker is essential for creating the swinging groove. This instrument exists of an aluminium or wooden frame with a number of rows, each carrying pairs of jingles (platinelas). The chocalho is played by shaking it back and forth and pumping the arms up and down. They are typically used as a support to the sound of the caixa's, to sustain the rhythm in the bateria.

Cuica

The cuica is a Brazilian friction drum and comes originally from Africa, where it was used during lion hunts to mimic a lion’s roar.

The instrument consists of a steel shell with a single hide skin, to the centre of which a bamboo stick has been attached. The cuica’s characteristic sound is obtained by rubbing the stick with a damp cloth. The pitch of the resulting tone can be changed by applying pressure to the skin with the fingers of the other hand. The cuica plays an important rhythmic role in samba music of all kinds. It is particularly used in Rio de Janeiro's carnival groups, which feature entire sections of cuíca players.

Ganza

The ganza or shaker is used in practically all Brazilian rhythms. The instrument consists of a brushed aluminium cylinder, filled with small metal balls which produce a rustling sound. The pitch and volume of this sound depend on the dimensions of the ganza. The ganza is played by shaking it in a way that forms the distinctive samba groove, with a good sense of timing. Because of it's small size and low weight, the ganza is a formidable instrument to allow players to dance freely whilst playing.

Pandeiro

The pandeiro is a type of hand drum and is considered as the most versatile of all Brazilian percussion instruments. The instrument is used in the widest variety of musical styles, including samba, pagode and capoeira. The pandeiro is comparable to the European tambourine, but the pandeiro has a drumhead. This drumhead is tunable, and the rim holds metal jingles (platinelas), which are cupped creating a crisper, drier and less sustained tone on the pandeiro than on the tambourine.
   
The pandeiro is held in one hand, and struck on the head by the other hand to produce the sound. Typical pandeiro patterns are played by alternating the thumb, fingertips, heel, and palm of the hand.

Rebolo

The rebolo is a little hand surdo with a cylindrical shape, used in pagode and other traditional styles. The rebolo has a warm, deep tone and comes with a synthetic leather (napa) drumhead at one end. The rebole provides a rhythmic basis for pandeiro, tamborim and agogo.
   
The rebolo is played horizontally in seated position with one hand playing the main rhythms on the drumhead and the other playing counter rhythms on the body.

Reco Reco

The reco reco, or springed guiro, has an unmistakeable sound. The reco reco consists of a cylyndrical metal soundbox with steel springs on top. The reco reco is played with a metal stick.

The reco reco is held in one hand while the metal stick is scraped up and down on the springs with the other hand, creating a raspy sound. By damping the springs with the thumb while playing, different tones can be created.

Repinique

The repinique, also known as repique, is a middle-sized, high-pitched drum which produces a  very loud tone that cuts through the sound of the rest of the bateria.  In the rhythm samba batucada the repinique is responsible for leading the bateria; besides playing samba grooves it is used to play intro, start, break and stop cues. The repinique is also used as solo instrument.
   
The repinique is carried using a shoulder strap. In samba batucada the repinique is played with one short wooden stick and a hand. The hand makes two distinct noises – the open tone, played by striking the drumhead at the edge with the fingers together then lifting; and the slap tone, where the fingertips strike slightly more towards the centre, to create a short snapping sound. In the samba-reggae two thin plastic (elastic) sticks are used.

Repique de Mao

The repique de mao is a little hand repique with a cylindrical shape, used in pagode and other traditional styles. The repique de mao has the same functions as the repinique and comes with a synthetic drumhead at one end. The sound is warmer than a repinique; the sound of the repinique makes the samba swing.

The repique de mao is played horizontally in seated position with one hand playing the main rhythms on the drumhead and the other playing counter rhythms on the body.

Surdo

The surdo is a large bass drum with a skin at each end. In samba the surdo is played with one single felt-tipped mallet and one hand. The surdo provides the basic rhythm, the heartbeat, of the samba. In samba-reggae the upper head can also be played with two mallets.
   
There are three size of surdo, each with its own specific musical function:

1. Surdo de primeira (maracacao): the largest surdo with the lowest tone
2. Surdo de segunda (resposta): slightly smaller bass drum with a slightly less deep tone. These two surdos provide the basic rhythm.
3. Surdo de terceira (cortador): the surdo with the smallest diameter and the highest tone. This surdo has more of a solo role and takes care of the swing.

In Rio de Janeiro surdos are generally 60cm deep, in the north-east of Brazil they are commonly more shallow, 45/50cm deep.

Surdos are carried with a waist belt or shoulder strap, with the heads roughly horizontally positioned. The bottom head is not played,

If you like a deeper warmer sound, with more sustain, we advise you to replace the original upper head by a synthetic leather drumhead (napa/korino).

Tamborim

The tamborim is a small round 6" diameter hand drum. This instrument is smaller then a pandeiro and has no jingles. The tamborim is made of a metal, plastic or wooden hoop on which a synthetic drumhead is stretched. The tamborim produces a bright, powerful sound, which can be heard above the other instruments. This instrument is principally used in samba, samba-reggae and pagode. In the samba batucada the tamborim is an indispensable (solo) instrument.
   
The tamborim is held in one hand while the other hand strikes the drumhead with a small wooden or synthetic stick. The synthetic stick comes in many variations, with two or three thicker prongs or five till seven thin prongs; more prongs means a larger sound.

Tan Tan

The tan tan is a large hand surdo with a cylindrical shape, used in pagode and other traditional styles. The tan tan has a warm, deep tone and comes with a synthetic leather (napa) drumhead at one end. The tan tan has the same function as the surdo de primeira; with the lowest sound of the pagode instruments, the tan tan is used to keep het main beat of the samba, the heart of the samba.
   
The tan tan is played horizontally in seated position with one hand playing the main rhythms on the drumhead and the other playing counter rhythms on the body.

Timbal

The timbal is a conical hand drum played with both hands. It is used most often for Afro-Brazilian rhythms, like axé and samba-reggae. The timbal is light in weight and made of lacquered wood or aluminium with an tunable synthetic skin at one end. The timbal is designed to play loud, rapid phrases and solos with powerful slaps. The sound of a timbal varies from a clear well-defined high tone till a strong deep bass. The timbal is available in different lengths; a greater length brings a deeper bass.
    
The timbal is carried using a shoulder strap. The playing technique has similarities to that used for conga and djembe.

Triangle

The triangle is a chromed metal percussion instrument used in rhythms from north-eastern Brazil, such as baiao, frevo and xaxado. The triangle consists of a triangular bent metal rod, which is held at the top during playing The triangle is played with a small metal stick. For the best sound this is preferably done on the side opposite to the opening. The triangle brings only three bell-like, but penetrating, tones. A triangle appears in different sizes: a smaller size sounds  higher than a large size. In contrast to the standard models, the forrozao model has a longer base arm, therefore this model has a deeper sound.