Cavaquinho

A cavaquinho (Portuguese ) is a string instrument from the family of stringed instruments. It has the shape of a guitar is of the dimensions is smaller than this, having a body made of wood, and the four strings of metal. Originally, the cavaquinho from Portugal and has spread from there via Madeira, the Azores, Cape Verde as far away as Brazil. The instrument is one of the precursors of the more famous Hawaiian ukulele.

Mainly there are two moods in use: the classic ( afinação tradicional, d'- g ' h' d ' ) and the modern ( afinação natural, d'- g' h ' e' ). More rarely, the mood in fifths (g- d'- a' -e ' ) is next encountered like a mandolin. In Portugal, the cavaquinho is hit with four fingers of the right hand ( the technique is called Rasgado in Portuguese ) or only with index finger thumb and plucked the cavaquinho can also be played with a plectrum, . thus it is common in Brazil.

Today, the cavaquinho has great popularity in the Brazilian music and is there mainly used in Samba as a harmony instrument and in choro solo.

The most famous virtuoso of the cavaquinho was the Brazilian Waldir Azevedo. He has written many compositions for the cavaquinho, including the famous piece Brasileirinho.