The cavaquinho (pronounced "kah-vah-kee-new") comes from 17th century Portugal, where it evolved from medieval stringed instruments brought to the Iberian peninsula. Portuguese settlers brought this portable chordophone with them to Brazil, Cape Verde, and other colonies, where it found a lasting place in folk song and dance traditions.
Off the coast of Portugal, Medeira is home to the machete de Braga, an older Portuguese variant of the cavaquinho. Lovingly refered to as machetinho (little machete) or braguinha for short, this is the cavaquinho that ukuleles are descended from. Emigrant workers brought the cavaquinho all the way to Honolulu in 1879, and the rest is history! (You can read more about ukulele history here on our website)
While the shape, size, and reentrant tuning style are similar, there are many differences between the modern ukulele and cavaquinho. Each has developed independently over subsequent years, steeping in their own rich musical traditions...
Different Strokes for Different Folks!
Most cavaquinho varieties share a set of common features: Four strings in a reentrant tuning (steel/gut/nylon), a small guitar-shaped body with a flat back, and a short and narrow neck (12-19 frets). Altogether, the instrument is about half the size of a standard guitar, and all the more portable for it!
In Portugal, the cavaquinho is central to fado song tradition as well as folk dances such as vira, malhão, and chula. In Brazil, the cavaquinho brasileiro (cavaco for short) is the foundational rhythm instrument of choro and samba. In Cape Verde, the cavaquihno cabo-verdiano plays a crucial role in morna and funaná musical traditions (more about these folk traditions here).
The most common of these Portuguese instruments comes from the Minho region in Northern Portugal, with the name "minhoto" for its place of origin (read more about this here). These have smaller bodies to other varieties of cavaquihno, usually with a higher-pitched voice. Gut or nylon strings are often used to produce a mellow and warm tone, for fingerstyle playing. Usually tuned CGAD.
The Brazilian adaptation of the instrument has more or less become the international standard. Slightly larger than its Portuguese counterpart, the cavaco is often tuned a bit lower for a warmer, fuller sound. Steel strings help strike a good balance by allowing for a bright and cutting tone, played with a plectrum (plastic or tortoiseshell pick). Usually tuned DGBD.
These plucked string composite chordophones are incredibly versitile. The cavaquinho can provide strong rhythmic backing for singers and dancers as an acompanhamento chordal instrument. While it plays well with others, the clear and bright tonal qualities of the cavaquinho is well-suited to solista performances as well (more about this here).
In the hands of a master cavaquista, as in the videos you'll find below, you'll often hear both rhythmic and chordal playing, combined with melodic embellishment and improvised variations. This small guitar-shaped instrument packs a big sound!
Some of our Favorite Cavaquista Performances:
Looking to get started playing? You can find the Brazilian Cavaquinho & Portuguese Cavaquinho on our online store today...