The music of capoeira

The berimbau twangs as the capoeirista holding it beats on the string furiously with a stick. After setting the rhythm, a song begins to emerge from the three notes that the instrument is capable of producing. The atabaque then begins to play, loud bass drum beats sounding out as the drummer hits the drum to the rhythm of the berimbau. The pandeiro then chimes in with its higher pitched noises. The capoeiristas begin to clap now, a steady three-clap beat. Then the song begins…

Music is an important part of capoeira and its identity. It gives cadence and form to the games being played in the roda, and the songs range from ditty’s with silly lyrics to songs that detail the history and various aspects of capoeira. The speed of the music and the particular tone being played by the berimbau sets the speed of the game, faster music means a faster, flashier game, while slower music signifies games should be slower and more technical.

The main instrument in capoeira, and what is considered the symbol of capoeira, is an instrument called the berimbau. It’s so important to capoeira, that Mestre Bimba once said “It is impossible to learn capoeira without the berimbau.”

It’s a stick of wood that is bent and strung with metal. A gourd is tied to the bottom that amplifies the sound that is made when the string is struck with a stick. A stone, called a dobrao, is used to alternate the notes made when the string is played. A caxixi, a small container of beads, gives additional sounds that complete the overall sound that is produced when the berimbau is played.

The atabaque is a big drum that serves to hold the main beat and speed of the music that is being played. It must play constantly during the music and games, and when capoeiristas switch off playing it, great care must be taken to ensure the atabaque does not stop.

The pandeiro is pretty much a tambourine. It helps give variety during the music, and is one of the more widely played instruments due to its ease in playing.

Other instruments are the reco-reco, or agogo. These aren’t used as often, but together with the other instruments they make a unique musical experience.

The songs are sung in Portuguese, which can be daunting for beginners. However, they’re not hard to learn. Singing in a roda is an uplifting experience that helps give spectators to the roda energy, as well as to those currently playing in the roda.