The first Brazilian musical instruments were flutes, horns, whistles, and rattles with an accompaniment of hands clapping and feet stomping.

Over the last several hundred years, instruments from various countries have influenced Brazil's music styles and sounds.

There are several different instruments used to make beautiful music, but these are some of the most popular or well-known Brazilian musical instruments used in dances, religious ceremonies, and just for simple enjoyment.

The atabaque is a hand drum with Afro-Brazilian origin. There are three types of atabaque drums. The tallest one is the Rum, which is the tallest of the three and produces a low sound. The medium high atabaque is called the Rum-Pi and as you might expect, it produces a medium percussion sound. The smallest atabaque drum is called the Le, producing a high percussion sound.

These drums are created from wood called Jacaranda, which is found in Brazil. Calfskin is used to stretch over the top of the drum. Metal rings surround the drum at the top or head and toward the bottom of the drum. Roping is stretched between these two metal rings and can be tightened or loosened to adjust the pitch of the drum. Wedges of wood are fitted tightly in between the bottom metal ring and the drum, which also affects the sound of the drum.

Atabaque drums are played for the Maculele and the Capoeira dances. They're also played during Candomble religious services.

The Maracatu refers to both a type of music and style of dance or performance in Brazil. The alfaia drum is used prominently in this style of music as well as the mangue. This drum originated in Pernambuco, Brazil. The appearance of an alfaia might remind you of the drums used by the U.S. military, as they are round and squatty in stature.

Photo by Lionel Baur, via Wikimedia Commons

The Ganza is a tubular shaped cylinder made from metal, plastic, or basket materials woven by hand. It's filled with cereal, sand, metal balls, or beads to create a unique shaker instrument. The Ganza was brought to Brazil by African slaves years ago and now is often played in samba music.

The cavaquinho was brought to Brazil by the Portuguese explorers. Cavaquinhos are made from wood and outfitted with four wire strings. This small guitar type instrument is used ogten in Chorinho and Samba music.

The pitch and sound of an agogo bell will vary depending on size and shape, but the most recognized agogo bell is two bells attached to metal shaped like the letter U. Striking the bell with a wooden stick creates musical sounds. The agogo was fashioned after bell-style instruments from the Yoruba people from West Africa.

A pandeiro resembles a tambourine and is played much in the same manner by holding it in one hand and striking it with the other hand to make music. It's essentially a hand drum.

The head of a pandeiro can be adjusted to create high or low pitches. The pandeiro is surrounded with metal jingles that can be shaken to produce sound. Brazilian music styles in which a pandeiro is used: choro, samba, capoeira, and coco.

This Brazilian musical instrument is a percussion instrument made from a wooden bow, gourd, and a steel string. The steel string is secured to the wooden bow and the gourd is then attached to the bow.

The berimbau is about 4-5 feet in length so that the gourd can rest on the abdomen and the hands are free to hold the wooden stick to strike the steel string.

The tones of the berimbau vary from low, medium to high, depending upon the quality of the gourds used and the hardness and diameter of the wood.

Sounds that are made with the berimbau are in three main categories, an open string sound, a high sound, and a buzzing sound.

There are many other musical instruments used to create the unique music styles of Brazil. They include:

These are just a few of the Brazilian musical instruments we've discovered. Do you know of other musical instruments from Brazil that we have not mentioned here? Please share with us!

What additional Brazilian musical instruments do you know of? Please share, and add a picture too!

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

View the original article here

The first Brazilian musical instruments were flutes, horns, whistles, and rattles with an accompaniment of hands clapping and feet stomping.

Over the last several hundred years, instruments from various countries have influenced Brazil's music styles and sounds.

There are several different instruments used to make beautiful music, but these are some of the most popular or well-known Brazilian musical instruments used in dances, religious ceremonies, and just for simple enjoyment.

The atabaque is a hand drum with Afro-Brazilian origin. There are three types of atabaque drums. The tallest one is the Rum, which is the tallest of the three and produces a low sound. The medium high atabaque is called the Rum-Pi and as you might expect, it produces a medium percussion sound. The smallest atabaque drum is called the Le, producing a high percussion sound.

These drums are created from wood called Jacaranda, which is found in Brazil. Calfskin is used to stretch over the top of the drum. Metal rings surround the drum at the top or head and toward the bottom of the drum. Roping is stretched between these two metal rings and can be tightened or loosened to adjust the pitch of the drum. Wedges of wood are fitted tightly in between the bottom metal ring and the drum, which also affects the sound of the drum.

Atabaque drums are played for the Maculele and the Capoeira dances. They're also played during Candomble religious services.

The Maracatu refers to both a type of music and style of dance or performance in Brazil. The alfaia drum is used prominently in this style of music as well as the mangue. This drum originated in Pernambuco, Brazil. The appearance of an alfaia might remind you of the drums used by the U.S. military, as they are round and squatty in stature.

Photo by Lionel Baur, via Wikimedia Commons

The Ganza is a tubular shaped cylinder made from metal, plastic, or basket materials woven by hand. It's filled with cereal, sand, metal balls, or beads to create a unique shaker instrument. The Ganza was brought to Brazil by African slaves years ago and now is often played in samba music.

The cavaquinho was brought to Brazil by the Portuguese explorers. Cavaquinhos are made from wood and outfitted with four wire strings. This small guitar type instrument is used ogten in Chorinho and Samba music.

The pitch and sound of an agogo bell will vary depending on size and shape, but the most recognized agogo bell is two bells attached to metal shaped like the letter U. Striking the bell with a wooden stick creates musical sounds. The agogo was fashioned after bell-style instruments from the Yoruba people from West Africa.

A pandeiro resembles a tambourine and is played much in the same manner by holding it in one hand and striking it with the other hand to make music. It's essentially a hand drum.

The head of a pandeiro can be adjusted to create high or low pitches. The pandeiro is surrounded with metal jingles that can be shaken to produce sound. Brazilian music styles in which a pandeiro is used: choro, samba, capoeira, and coco.

This Brazilian musical instrument is a percussion instrument made from a wooden bow, gourd, and a steel string. The steel string is secured to the wooden bow and the gourd is then attached to the bow.

The berimbau is about 4-5 feet in length so that the gourd can rest on the abdomen and the hands are free to hold the wooden stick to strike the steel string.

The tones of the berimbau vary from low, medium to high, depending upon the quality of the gourds used and the hardness and diameter of the wood.

Sounds that are made with the berimbau are in three main categories, an open string sound, a high sound, and a buzzing sound.

There are many other musical instruments used to create the unique music styles of Brazil. They include:

These are just a few of the Brazilian musical instruments we've discovered. Do you know of other musical instruments from Brazil that we have not mentioned here? Please share with us!

What additional Brazilian musical instruments do you know of? Please share, and add a picture too!

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

View the original article here

>Brazil music runs the gamut when it comes to styles, instruments, and sound. It can be infectious, exciting, or soothing, depending on the type of music you're listening to.

The country of Brazil is a melting pot of diverse musical backgrounds and history. You'll hear music everywhere in Brazil - bars, restaurants, sporting events, beaches, homes, businesses, cafes, and mountains. It's part and parcel of Brazilian culture and lifestyle.

Brazilian music is filled with sounds of the history of the country. Brazil's history has been one of tragedy, poverty, slavery, and grief, and all of that comes out in the sounds and rhythms of their music.

The indigenous people, prior to the Portuguese settlers arriving in the country, played the first music of Brazil using rattles, flutes, horns, drums, sticks, whistles, and horns. They used their feet to stomp out rhythm and their hands to clap and keep rhythm as well.

The indigenous people sang their songs both in chorus or as soloists. Two instruments from the early years of Brazil's musical history have survived into modern times - the ganza and the reco-reco. Both instruments are used to play the modern-day musical styles of samba and choro.

Portuguese explorers introduced the sounds of their music to the indigenous people of Brazil, which was a mixture of sounds culled from Portuguese history.

The musical elements from the Portuguese included influences from Europe, North Africa, India, Arabia, and the Middle East. Lullabies, dance music, and ballads were introduced to and melded with the folksy music of the indigenous music to create brand new and interesting musical styles.

Instruments introduced by the Portuguese included the Jew's harp, accordion, flute, tambourine, and clarinet.

African slaves were brought to Brazil for nearly 300 years before the country finally abolished slavery. Musical influences from Africa are heard throughout Brazil today as a result of the music brought with the African people.

You can still hear lundu and maxixe in regions of Brazil, which are two erotic and popular music and dance cultures brought to Brazil by the African people.

Today, music of every kind is heard in Brazil. Some of it is strictly regional, but much of it can be heard in several regions of the country.

Some musical styles include: samba, axe, MPB, choro, forro, frevo, Bossa nova, brega, afoxe, and maracatu, to name a few. Classical music and operatic music also have a place in Brazil music, especially in the larger cities. See our popular Brazilian music page for more.

The musical instruments used in Brazil music vary from the most basic of instruments such as people's hands and feet to more complex instruments such as electric acoustic guitars. Each and every instrument comes together to create unusual and eclectic sounds and rhythms that have become Brazilian music. Berimbau - accompanies capoeira Agogo bells - used in religious rituals Accordion, flute, violin - heard in Portuguese songs called the fado and the moda Percussion instruments - primarily heard in African-style music, but are used in many different Brazilian music styles Atabaque - hand drum Pandeiro - instrument similar to tambourine Samba musical instruments - tamborim, surdo, berimbau, timba, chocalho, caixa, agogo bells, pandeiro, ganza, and cuica Bossa nova instruments - piano, drums, tambourine, nylon string acoustic guitar, saxophone, symbols, vibraphone, and symbols Choro instruments - cavaquinho, flute, guitar, trombone, mandolin, saxophone, 7-string guitar, clarinet, pandeiro, and trumpet Maracatu instruments - gongue, alfaia, abe, tarol, caixa-de-guerra and mineiro

For more please visit our Brazilian musical instruments page.

The lyrics in Brazilian music are words that speak to the history and culture of the people living in Brazil.

Lyrics associated with capoeira might speak to people longing for freedom, the fisherman who sails the sea finding food, the water of the sea and it's movements, or even as a warning to be respectful of a capoeirista.

Lyrics in forro music talk about romance and love and also of those times that jealousy, envy, and passion are in a relationship. Forro lyrics may even speak of a long ago love.

MPB, or Musica Popular Brasileira, is the name assigned to any and all Brazilian pop music. This type of music came out of a musical style called Tropicalia, a mix of samba and Bossa nova music styles. It's a unique combination of newer styles of pop music with the folk music sounds and style of the indigenous people of Brazil.

Drums and percussion instruments are often used in Brazilian music to create interesting rhythms or provide the background music for other instruments. Sambass is a type of drum and bass music originating from Latin America, but now popular in some regions of Brazil. Sambass is unique music conjured from a combination of bass and drumbeats and rhythms.

Brazil music embodies the history and people of Brazil in a unique way. Brazilian music has many sounds and styles from soft and soothing to erotic, rock and roll, and pop.

Listening to the different music styles, you can hear and imagine the struggles of the Brazilian people through the settling of their country, slavery, military regime, and their colorful history of simply who they are as a people. Music is the heart and soul of Brazil as a country and it's an important element in the lifestyle and culture of every Brazilian.

Families center their celebrations on music. Carnivals and festivals are huge events in Brazil and music is always a big part of those celebrations.

Music is always played during religious rituals and services throughout the country. Brazil is recognized as having one of the most diverse and unique styles of music within a country.

What is your favorite type of Brazilian music or your favorite Brazilian musicians? Please share!

View the original article here

>Brazil music runs the gamut when it comes to styles, instruments, and sound. It can be infectious, exciting, or soothing, depending on the type of music you're listening to.

The country of Brazil is a melting pot of diverse musical backgrounds and history. You'll hear music everywhere in Brazil - bars, restaurants, sporting events, beaches, homes, businesses, cafes, and mountains. It's part and parcel of Brazilian culture and lifestyle.

Brazilian music is filled with sounds of the history of the country. Brazil's history has been one of tragedy, poverty, slavery, and grief, and all of that comes out in the sounds and rhythms of their music.

The indigenous people, prior to the Portuguese settlers arriving in the country, played the first music of Brazil using rattles, flutes, horns, drums, sticks, whistles, and horns. They used their feet to stomp out rhythm and their hands to clap and keep rhythm as well.

The indigenous people sang their songs both in chorus or as soloists. Two instruments from the early years of Brazil's musical history have survived into modern times - the ganza and the reco-reco. Both instruments are used to play the modern-day musical styles of samba and choro.

Portuguese explorers introduced the sounds of their music to the indigenous people of Brazil, which was a mixture of sounds culled from Portuguese history.

The musical elements from the Portuguese included influences from Europe, North Africa, India, Arabia, and the Middle East. Lullabies, dance music, and ballads were introduced to and melded with the folksy music of the indigenous music to create brand new and interesting musical styles.

Instruments introduced by the Portuguese included the Jew's harp, accordion, flute, tambourine, and clarinet.

African slaves were brought to Brazil for nearly 300 years before the country finally abolished slavery. Musical influences from Africa are heard throughout Brazil today as a result of the music brought with the African people.

You can still hear lundu and maxixe in regions of Brazil, which are two erotic and popular music and dance cultures brought to Brazil by the African people.

Today, music of every kind is heard in Brazil. Some of it is strictly regional, but much of it can be heard in several regions of the country.

Some musical styles include: samba, axe, MPB, choro, forro, frevo, Bossa nova, brega, afoxe, and maracatu, to name a few. Classical music and operatic music also have a place in Brazil music, especially in the larger cities. See our popular Brazilian music page for more.

The musical instruments used in Brazil music vary from the most basic of instruments such as people's hands and feet to more complex instruments such as electric acoustic guitars. Each and every instrument comes together to create unusual and eclectic sounds and rhythms that have become Brazilian music. Berimbau - accompanies capoeira Agogo bells - used in religious rituals Accordion, flute, violin - heard in Portuguese songs called the fado and the moda Percussion instruments - primarily heard in African-style music, but are used in many different Brazilian music styles Atabaque - hand drum Pandeiro - instrument similar to tambourine Samba musical instruments - tamborim, surdo, berimbau, timba, chocalho, caixa, agogo bells, pandeiro, ganza, and cuica Bossa nova instruments - piano, drums, tambourine, nylon string acoustic guitar, saxophone, symbols, vibraphone, and symbols Choro instruments - cavaquinho, flute, guitar, trombone, mandolin, saxophone, 7-string guitar, clarinet, pandeiro, and trumpet Maracatu instruments - gongue, alfaia, abe, tarol, caixa-de-guerra and mineiro

For more please visit our Brazilian musical instruments page.

The lyrics in Brazilian music are words that speak to the history and culture of the people living in Brazil.

Lyrics associated with capoeira might speak to people longing for freedom, the fisherman who sails the sea finding food, the water of the sea and it's movements, or even as a warning to be respectful of a capoeirista.

Lyrics in forro music talk about romance and love and also of those times that jealousy, envy, and passion are in a relationship. Forro lyrics may even speak of a long ago love.

MPB, or Musica Popular Brasileira, is the name assigned to any and all Brazilian pop music. This type of music came out of a musical style called Tropicalia, a mix of samba and Bossa nova music styles. It's a unique combination of newer styles of pop music with the folk music sounds and style of the indigenous people of Brazil.

Drums and percussion instruments are often used in Brazilian music to create interesting rhythms or provide the background music for other instruments. Sambass is a type of drum and bass music originating from Latin America, but now popular in some regions of Brazil. Sambass is unique music conjured from a combination of bass and drumbeats and rhythms.

Brazil music embodies the history and people of Brazil in a unique way. Brazilian music has many sounds and styles from soft and soothing to erotic, rock and roll, and pop.

Listening to the different music styles, you can hear and imagine the struggles of the Brazilian people through the settling of their country, slavery, military regime, and their colorful history of simply who they are as a people. Music is the heart and soul of Brazil as a country and it's an important element in the lifestyle and culture of every Brazilian.

Families center their celebrations on music. Carnivals and festivals are huge events in Brazil and music is always a big part of those celebrations.

Music is always played during religious rituals and services throughout the country. Brazil is recognized as having one of the most diverse and unique styles of music within a country.

What is your favorite type of Brazilian music or your favorite Brazilian musicians? Please share!

View the original article here