Cavaquinho Chords — Standard
4-string tuning: D-G-B-D — The bright, percussive soul of samba and Brazilian choro
About Standard Tuning on Cavaquinho
The cavaquinho is a small four-string Brazilian instrument tuned D-G-B-D, producing a bright, punchy tone that drives the rhythm in samba, choro, and pagode. Its steel strings and small body create a percussive attack that cuts through percussion-heavy ensembles, making it the rhythmic backbone of Brazilian popular music.
The cavaquinho (also spelled cavaco) is to Brazilian music what the guitar is to rock — absolutely essential. In samba, the cavaquinho player provides the rhythmic centro (center) that holds the bateria (percussion section) together. In choro, it takes on a more melodic role, weaving intricate lines between the bandolim and guitar. Waldir Azevedo's 'Brasileirinho' is perhaps the most famous cavaquinho piece, showcasing the instrument's virtuosic potential. The cavaquinho is also the ancestor of the Hawaiian ukulele, brought to the islands by Portuguese immigrants.
Notable artists: Waldir Azevedo, Paulinho da Viola, Beth Carvalho, Nelson Cavaquinho, Luciana Rabello
Best for: Samba rhythm, choro melody and accompaniment, pagode, and Brazilian ensemble playing
Browse 324 cavaquinho chords in Standard tuning. Click any arpeggio below to view the interactive fretboard diagram.
C
- C Power Chord
- C Major
- C Minor
- C Dominant 7th
- C Major 7th
- C Minor 7th
- C Augmented
- C Diminished
- C Minor add9
- C Add4
- C Suspended 4th
- C Suspended 2nd
- C Add9
- C Minor 7 flat 5
- C 6th
- C Minor 6th
- C Minor flat 6
- C Minor 6/9
- C Major 6th
- C 6/9
- C Major 9th
- C Minor 9th
- C Minor 9 Major 7th
- C Minor 9 flat 5
- C Major 11th
- C Minor Major 7th
- C Major 13th
C#
- C# Power Chord
- C# Major
- C# Minor
- C# Dominant 7th
- C# Major 7th
- C# Minor 7th
- C# Augmented
- C# Diminished
- C# Minor add9
- C# Add4
- C# Suspended 4th
- C# Suspended 2nd
- C# Add9
- C# Minor 7 flat 5
- C# 6th
- C# Minor 6th
- C# Minor flat 6
- C# Minor 6/9
- C# Major 6th
- C# 6/9
- C# Major 9th
- C# Minor 9th
- C# Minor 9 Major 7th
- C# Minor 9 flat 5
- C# Major 11th
- C# Minor Major 7th
- C# Major 13th
D
- D Power Chord
- D Major
- D Minor
- D Dominant 7th
- D Major 7th
- D Minor 7th
- D Augmented
- D Diminished
- D Minor add9
- D Add4
- D Suspended 4th
- D Suspended 2nd
- D Add9
- D Minor 7 flat 5
- D 6th
- D Minor 6th
- D Minor flat 6
- D Minor 6/9
- D Major 6th
- D 6/9
- D Major 9th
- D Minor 9th
- D Minor 9 Major 7th
- D Minor 9 flat 5
- D Major 11th
- D Minor Major 7th
- D Major 13th
D#
- D# Power Chord
- D# Major
- D# Minor
- D# Dominant 7th
- D# Major 7th
- D# Minor 7th
- D# Augmented
- D# Diminished
- D# Minor add9
- D# Add4
- D# Suspended 4th
- D# Suspended 2nd
- D# Add9
- D# Minor 7 flat 5
- D# 6th
- D# Minor 6th
- D# Minor flat 6
- D# Minor 6/9
- D# Major 6th
- D# 6/9
- D# Major 9th
- D# Minor 9th
- D# Minor 9 Major 7th
- D# Minor 9 flat 5
- D# Major 11th
- D# Minor Major 7th
- D# Major 13th
E
- E Power Chord
- E Major
- E Minor
- E Dominant 7th
- E Major 7th
- E Minor 7th
- E Augmented
- E Diminished
- E Minor add9
- E Add4
- E Suspended 4th
- E Suspended 2nd
- E Add9
- E Minor 7 flat 5
- E 6th
- E Minor 6th
- E Minor flat 6
- E Minor 6/9
- E Major 6th
- E 6/9
- E Major 9th
- E Minor 9th
- E Minor 9 Major 7th
- E Minor 9 flat 5
- E Major 11th
- E Minor Major 7th
- E Major 13th
F
- F Power Chord
- F Major
- F Minor
- F Dominant 7th
- F Major 7th
- F Minor 7th
- F Augmented
- F Diminished
- F Minor add9
- F Add4
- F Suspended 4th
- F Suspended 2nd
- F Add9
- F Minor 7 flat 5
- F 6th
- F Minor 6th
- F Minor flat 6
- F Minor 6/9
- F Major 6th
- F 6/9
- F Major 9th
- F Minor 9th
- F Minor 9 Major 7th
- F Minor 9 flat 5
- F Major 11th
- F Minor Major 7th
- F Major 13th
F#
- F# Power Chord
- F# Major
- F# Minor
- F# Dominant 7th
- F# Major 7th
- F# Minor 7th
- F# Augmented
- F# Diminished
- F# Minor add9
- F# Add4
- F# Suspended 4th
- F# Suspended 2nd
- F# Add9
- F# Minor 7 flat 5
- F# 6th
- F# Minor 6th
- F# Minor flat 6
- F# Minor 6/9
- F# Major 6th
- F# 6/9
- F# Major 9th
- F# Minor 9th
- F# Minor 9 Major 7th
- F# Minor 9 flat 5
- F# Major 11th
- F# Minor Major 7th
- F# Major 13th
G
- G Power Chord
- G Major
- G Minor
- G Dominant 7th
- G Major 7th
- G Minor 7th
- G Augmented
- G Diminished
- G Minor add9
- G Add4
- G Suspended 4th
- G Suspended 2nd
- G Add9
- G Minor 7 flat 5
- G 6th
- G Minor 6th
- G Minor flat 6
- G Minor 6/9
- G Major 6th
- G 6/9
- G Major 9th
- G Minor 9th
- G Minor 9 Major 7th
- G Minor 9 flat 5
- G Major 11th
- G Minor Major 7th
- G Major 13th
G#
- G# Power Chord
- G# Major
- G# Minor
- G# Dominant 7th
- G# Major 7th
- G# Minor 7th
- G# Augmented
- G# Diminished
- G# Minor add9
- G# Add4
- G# Suspended 4th
- G# Suspended 2nd
- G# Add9
- G# Minor 7 flat 5
- G# 6th
- G# Minor 6th
- G# Minor flat 6
- G# Minor 6/9
- G# Major 6th
- G# 6/9
- G# Major 9th
- G# Minor 9th
- G# Minor 9 Major 7th
- G# Minor 9 flat 5
- G# Major 11th
- G# Minor Major 7th
- G# Major 13th
A
- A Power Chord
- A Major
- A Minor
- A Dominant 7th
- A Major 7th
- A Minor 7th
- A Augmented
- A Diminished
- A Minor add9
- A Add4
- A Suspended 4th
- A Suspended 2nd
- A Add9
- A Minor 7 flat 5
- A 6th
- A Minor 6th
- A Minor flat 6
- A Minor 6/9
- A Major 6th
- A 6/9
- A Major 9th
- A Minor 9th
- A Minor 9 Major 7th
- A Minor 9 flat 5
- A Major 11th
- A Minor Major 7th
- A Major 13th
A#
- A# Power Chord
- A# Major
- A# Minor
- A# Dominant 7th
- A# Major 7th
- A# Minor 7th
- A# Augmented
- A# Diminished
- A# Minor add9
- A# Add4
- A# Suspended 4th
- A# Suspended 2nd
- A# Add9
- A# Minor 7 flat 5
- A# 6th
- A# Minor 6th
- A# Minor flat 6
- A# Minor 6/9
- A# Major 6th
- A# 6/9
- A# Major 9th
- A# Minor 9th
- A# Minor 9 Major 7th
- A# Minor 9 flat 5
- A# Major 11th
- A# Minor Major 7th
- A# Major 13th
B
- B Power Chord
- B Major
- B Minor
- B Dominant 7th
- B Major 7th
- B Minor 7th
- B Augmented
- B Diminished
- B Minor add9
- B Add4
- B Suspended 4th
- B Suspended 2nd
- B Add9
- B Minor 7 flat 5
- B 6th
- B Minor 6th
- B Minor flat 6
- B Minor 6/9
- B Major 6th
- B 6/9
- B Major 9th
- B Minor 9th
- B Minor 9 Major 7th
- B Minor 9 flat 5
- B Major 11th
- B Minor Major 7th
- B Major 13th