Tuning Formats for the
Cavaquinho, 10 String
Brazilian Viola & 7 String Guitars
THE BRAZILIAN CAVAQUINHO
The Cavaquinho or Cavaco is a small four
stringed instrument similar to a Ukelele. It's used in Brazilian samba schools, pagode and Choro music. Its high
tinkling tones cut right across the percussion section of a samba band and can be used either as a base guitar or as the soloist.
For more information about the history of the Cavaquinho, click here:
Brazilian Cavaquinho - Most Popular Tuning Formats
Most Popular Formats in Brazil:
Most used in Samba
1º String - D 2º String - B 3º String - G 4º String - D
Same as the Guitar
1º String - E 2º String - B 3º
String - G 4º String – D
Alternative
Format (Same as the Mandolin)
1º
String - E 2º String - A 3º String - D 4º String - G
THE BRAZILIAN VIOLA
The unique Brazilian Viola, is a 10-string steel guitar (5 pairs) that allows 11 different tuning
formats. The Viola, which is traditionally played in Brazilian folk music, has become a very trendy instrument also
among Brazilian Jazz musicians and is now available for the first time in the US. See below some links with Giannini endorsers playing the Brazilian Viola:
GESVL& GESVNL -Recommended for the
following tuning formats:
UNISON
UNISON
OCTAVES
OCTAVES
OCTAVES
1st Pair
2nd Pair
3rd Pair
4th Pair
5th Pair
E
B
G#
E
B
E
C
G
E
C
E
B
G#
E
A
Giannini Medium Strings
GESVM &
GESVNM--Recommended for the following tuning formats:
UNISON
UNISON
OCTAVES
OCTAVES
OCTAVES
1st Pair
2nd Pair
3rd
Pair
4th Pair
5th Pair
D
A
F#
D
A
E
B
G
D
A
E
B
F#
D
A
D
B
G
D
A
Giannini
High Strings
GESVP & GESVNP-Recommended for the
following tuning format:
UNISON
UNISON
OCTAVES
OCTAVES
OCTAVES
1st Pair
2nd Pair
3rd
Pair
4th Pair
5th Pair
D
B
G
D
G
D
C
G
C
G
E
C
G
C
G
D
B
G
C
G
THE
BRAZILIAN 7-STRING GUITAR
The
Brazilian 7-string guitar is typically tuned like a classical guitar, but with an additional B below the low E as follows:
B-E-A-D-G-b-E; although some musicians tune the B up to a C resulting in C-E-A-D-G-b-E.
The Brazilian 7-string guitar is an acoustic guitar used primarily
in choro and samba. It was introduced to Brazil in the early 20th century. The style of "baixaria" counterpoint
and accompaniment technique was developed throughout the 20th century and became a consolidated style especially with Dino 7 Cordas and Raphael Rabello.
Watch
some Brazilians musicians playing the 7-string guitar:
