Samba

Samba Instruments

ganza

• cylindrical rattle or shaker (plastic or metal so careful about the timbre bc shakey sound samba = ganza)

https://youtu.be/pZNqMcG3NdU

reco-reco

• a hollow, grooved gourd rubbed with a stick

https://youtu.be/KzoOLePJrbE

tambourim

• small round frame drum

• high, sharp timbre

• played with a small wooden drumstick or with a beater

https://youtu.be/djVoHQ5H_98

agogo

• double metal bells of 2 pitches

• wooden stick used to hit the bells

• could be squeezed together to produce a clicking sound

https://youtu.be/rQXMnts5C68

Cuíca

• friction drum with goofy squeaky sound

• played by rubbing stick between the thumb and forefinger with a damp sponge or piece of leather

https://youtu.be/mmlK94QvwiA

Caixa

• snare drum played with 2 wooden sticks

https://youtu.be/NOq3oPpbncM

Repinique

• lead and solo instrument as it is tuned to a very high pitch to stand out

• played with wooden stick and hand

https://youtu.be/mn6rHUDxZ3c

Surdo

• Large bass drum

• 1 hand dampen head

• played with 1 mallet (looks like a hammer but dull head made of rubber)

https://youtu.be/O4S3JX9XeAA

Bateria

The large percussion section in samba is called the bateria

Features

• Call and response

• syncopation

• polyrhythm

Metre + Rhythm

• usually in 2/4

• percussion break known as paradinha