Cavaquinho for your second instrument?

[jenjoyce]

I have heard this enchanting instrument as melody and rhythm in some genres. What comes to mind first, other than choro, is the singer Cecaria Evora. Just voice and cavaquinho on some of the tunes. I'd like to talk about tunings. As I understand it, there's several, but first I have to find the cavaquinho players.

[Jim MacDaniel]

I've owned a couple of Malagoli eCavaquinhos, and their scale was just a tad shorter than a mandolin (about 13.5" if I reacll correctly). I learned that a couple of common tunings for the Cavaquinho is, from bass to treble, DGBD or DGBE, but I ended up tuning mine GDAE (if you already can think in "guitar", DGBE should be an easy transition for you http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif ).

[jenjoyce]

I don't think in guitar, as I never played one. #The tuning I've heard on Evora's music almost sounds as if one string is an octave higher, #much like it's forefather, the ukelele. #GDAE is mando tuning, #so you tune a cavaquinho in fifths like a mando? #I have an extra mandolin (a wall hanger mostly) a Gibson A model (scale shorter than my F-model)-- that cant take the tension of 8 strings , so I was messin' around with samba tunings on just 4 (like a cavaquinho has, 4 steel strings) --- but it's very difficult as I don't play guitar.

#I've heard there is a Brazilian samba 'natural' tuning which is the upper guitar strings basically, #and the Portugese traditional tuning, #and who knows how to play that... right? #I would love to know how Cesaria Evora's cavaquinhos are tuned, because that's the sound I want.

I wish I was a tuning savant, you know, #like a person that could listen to an instrument and distinguish which strings are tuned to what note.

[jenjoyce]

Let me get this straight... first, #what notes are the four higher strings on a guitar (supposedly the Brazilian Samba tuning)?
Are any of the tunings you mention, #ofset an octave (as in ukelele) ?

[Jim MacDaniel]

I tuned my eCavaquinhos like a mandolin -- in fifths -- but their chords would sound different than in the recordings you've heard, since no doubt they are using a more standard tuning.

The top four strings of a guitar are DGBE, so one variant of tuning for the Cavaquinho (aka, "Cavaco"), is DGBE, but an octave higher than a guitar's top four strings. This is essentially tuned in fourths, except between G & B, which is a third.

If you tune it DGBD, the D and G are a fourth apart, but then the next two strings are each a third higher than the previous string -- and the bottom and top strings are then an octave apart.

I am definitely not a Cavaquinho player, so I am not sure if their chord books are based upon DGBE or DGBD tuning -- but if you tune it DGBE, I assume you can always refer to guitar chord guides, using the top four strings only. On the other hand, if you tune it DGBD, I would think that might let you use a lot of barre chords, since the bottom and top strings are an octave apart.

[Will Patton]

My understanding is that Cava tuning is DGAD - I have a chord book from Brasil that uses this tuning. It's a great sound and indispensible for the true choro groove. Guess I need to go to Brasil and buy one!

http://www.wpatton.com

[Jim MacDaniel]

I just did a quick google, are there seem to be as many variations in tuning these things as there are players: in addition to the tunings Will and I noted above, some additional tuning options include: AAC#E, GCEA, GDEA, GCEA.

So, you might want to do what Will did and buy a chord book -- and then tune it per the chord book. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif


I also found a couple links that might be helpful for you:

On-line chord guide (DGBD tuning) (http://www.sfmpb.com/cav/cavchordcompendium.html)

A "help for beginner" thread at a Brazilian music discussion forum (http://sambala.tribe.net/thread/06870427-e2f5-4bc3-ac6f-d353c618bf5b)



(BTW, I'm surprised we haven't heard from Glauber on this topic, as I believe he is quite the Choro fan, and a frequent traveller to Brazil as well.)

[Sellars]

I own a cavaquinho a friend brought home for me from brazil. I consider ukulele and mandolin as my primary instruments, but like to toy around with different stringed instruments. A cavaquinho is a great little instrument to play around with. I tune mine DGBD. I must admit that my approach to the beast is much like the ukulele.

[Bruce Evans]

I own a cavaquinho a friend brought home for me from brazil. I consider ukulele and mandolin as my primary instruments, but like to toy around with different stringed instruments. ... I tune mine DGBD. I must admit that my approach to the beast is much like the ukulele.
I also have a cavaquinho brought back from Brazil by a friend - Brazilian rosewood, no less. I consider uke and guitar my primary instruments right now. I also use the DGBD tuning, like the 4 strings of standard banjo tuning.

But my approach to the cavacao is nothing at all like a ukulele. First of all, the cavacao has steel srings and the ukulele has nylon. The uke tuning is reentrant, the cavacao is not. I almost never use a pick on the uke but always do with the cavacao. I play finger style and chord melody on the uke, but single string stuff with the cavacao. I strum chords on both, however.

[Paul Hostetter]

Cavaquinho (AKA cavaco) is a soprano guitar. As mentioned, the most common tuning in Brazil is GDBD, but there are others (http://www.henriquecazes.com.br/index2.php?cat=cavaquinho). I think the most advanced and amazing proponent of the cavaquinho is Henrique Cazes (http://www.henriquecazes.com.br/). Google him (or click that link there) and buy everything he's ever recorded, especially Família Violão - Desde que o Choro é Choro (Kuarup 1995). You'll be glad you did.

[jenjoyce]

Has anybody heard Cesaria Evora, from Cape Verde? Is it even possible for anyone to tell by listening to the type of tuning used to achieve the enchanting sound of her players cavaquinho/cavaco ?

Cesaria Evora (http://www.google.com/musica?aid=2w0iX4J6RxB&sa=X&oi=music&ct=result)

I have her cd "Miss Perfumado" and am smitten with the instrument. #I know this is a difficult task, but in order for me to set up the instrument with the right gauge strings, and also to tackle the chording, #I must first find the correct tuning I'm wanting to emulate.

I think at this point, #I'll print out the chord charts from the link provided above, and fool around a bit. I'll be using my 'extra' 4-string A-body mandolin, so I think it's a fair start.

#So much to learn about this instrument!