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Brazilian Percussion

Brazilian Percussion has a strong African influence due to the arrival of slaves in the 1500s as in many other parts of the New World. The result was slightly different from Cuba and other parts of the Caribbean due to the Portuguese melodic and harmonic traditions. Still, percussion plays are very important role in their music which has in turn influenced American popular music.

Ago-go Bells

August 14, 2019 04:21 PM
A pair of small cowbells with different pitches. Read more here.

Apito

August 15, 2019 09:28 AM
A whistle with different pitches used to signal a Brazilian ensemble. Read more here.

Berimbau

August 15, 2019 09:36 AM
A bow-like instrument played with a stick and caxixi. Read more here.

Caxixi

August 15, 2019 09:42 AM
A small woven shaker with a gourd on one end for a percussive sound. Read more here.

Cuica

August 15, 2019 09:49 AM
A small single-headed friction drum with pitch changing effects. Read more here.

Panderio

August 09, 2019 09:45 AM
A medium-sized Brazilian tambourine. Read more here.

Reco-Reco

August 15, 2019 09:56 AM
A scraped instrument played similarly to a guiro. Read more here.

Repenique

August 15, 2019 10:02 AM
A double-headed drum played with one hand and one stick. Read more here.

Surdo

August 15, 2019 10:15 AM
The bass drum of Brazilian music - played with one hand and one stick. Read more here.

Tambourim

August 09, 2019 09:49 AM
A small Brazilian frame drum played with a bundle of plastic dowels. Read more here.