Samba Instruments

Somba has had so much success that it has crossed language and cultural boundaries despite some racial-prejudice opposition of the people where it originated. Areas that Somba has conquered include, the Netherlands, France Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, and even Japan. Yet, Somba music is a blend of African and European instruments and music that was taken to an entirely new level since its origination.

This Rio de Janeiro-rooted music is part of the rich cultural backdrop best know within Carnaval, but it also became the essential genre of the Brazil. What instruments can be found within the music of Samba? Today, there are a variety of instruments that are used to make the music of Samba have its distinct character and feel, but originally its unique and sensory-felt sounds came from Pandeiro or a type of framed drum for the hand, shakers, castanets, Berimbaus which is a bow-like stringed instrument and guitars of many types.

Other musical instruments that Samba music is also best characterized by are percussion instruments such as tambourines, and cavaquinho which is a small European-like guitar with strong Portuguese usage, and many other types of guitars. In Bahian Samba there was often use a repetitive verse that was chanted by the musicians and dancers as they competed against each other to crown the best movers within that sect of people. These chants usually derived from one singer who would initiate the song, often in improvisational style. Samba later became such a vast and popular network of music that the first Samba Schools in Brazil became realized. It was then that many other instruments and sounds that were commonly uses within orchestra settings, began to be adopted by teachers and students within the Samba Schools. Now, there is no stopping Samba. Today, the music of Samba runs the full gamut of modern and traditional boss nova, jazz and even rhythm and blues and rock styles have emerged to stay.