Cavaquinho Information
Gerry Scott-Moore
I'm looking for any information I might be able to get on my little
cavaquinho. I've been playing it for about a year, mostly with records
by Beth Carvalho and Marinho da Vila. Actually I've spent more time
sight-reading choro music, with which I've come to understand it is
rarely used as a melodic instrument. Anyway, can someone give me the
names of available records by Waldyr Azevedo? I understand he is the man
to study.
Also can anyone tell me anything about the following cavaquinhistas?
Zezinho (Ze Carioca), Tatuzinho, Pinheinho, Exmeraldino, Canhotinho or
Canhoto. I have seen their names listed and know little else.
Thanks for any/all information.
\\\--- Gerry
--
---------------------------------------------------
| Gerry | Samba salvara' |
| ----- | o mundo! |
| g...@netcom.com | Aliso Viejo, California |
---------------------------------------------------
Paulo Rocha Oliveira
I got started pretty much like you - sightreading and picking up by ear
choro melodies, but I also did some comping by adapting voicings from the
guitar (though I must confess the gigs I got with that were, well, zero).
Whta really changed my approach to the instruemtn and got me to really
understand it better as a cavaquinho (not a 'modified guitar', so to speak)
was a book I studied about two years ago:
It is called
Escola Moderna do Cavaquinho
written by Henrique Cazes.
I bought it in Brazil, but if you write to the publisher they might be able
to help youget a hold of it:
Lumiar Editora
Rua Elvira Machado, 15
CEP 22280-060 Rio de JAneiro, RJ
Brazil.
Tel: (021) 541 4045
Fax: (021) 275 6295
This book is a must if you're really interested in being a good cavaquinho
player and live outside of Brazil with no contact with Brazilian cavaquinhistas
.
Paulo.
Carlos A. Ferraro C.
In article <gsmCun...@netcom.com>, g...@netcom.com (Gerry Scott-Moore) writes:
>
> I'm looking for any information I might be able to get on my little
I can recomend listening to a man called 'Jacare do Cavaco' - he's got
a contagious sound!
I think he lives in France. I've heard a record (with him as a guest) from
the group 'Tupi Nago', based in France. Also I saw him live here in Sweden
some time ago - the man is too much!
I din't know the titles of any other records he may involved in, but if
anyone knows, please, post it here !! :-)
Bye,
Carlos
--
Carlos A. Ferraro C. s-mail: Godhemsgatan 60 A
414 68 Gothenburg
e-mail: car...@dd.chalmers.se , SWEDEN
md9...@mdstud.chalmers.se phone (home): (+46 31) 7750549
Gerry Scott-Moore
: Escola Moderna do Cavaquinho
: written by Henrique Cazes.
: This book is a must if you're really interested in being a good cavaquinho
: player and live outside of Brazil with no contact with Brazilian cavaquinhistas
Thanks for the info, I know that Luso-Brazilian books is carrying more
and more of the Lumiar Editora publications. I'll bet I can get it
through them. I note that in the description in the back of another such
publication (The Dorival Caymmi Songboks) they mention:
Primeiro metodo de cavaquinho solo e acompanhamento editado no Brasil nas
afinacoes re-sol-si-re e re-sol-si-mi. Which way to you play it.
I understand from a book I have "O Cavaquino Metodo - cifras e harmonia"
by Armando Bento De Araujo (Armandinho) that it is tuned like a Banjo
most frequently: D-G-B-D. But in the Cazes book he also deals with it
tuned like the top end of a guitar? (D-G-B-E). Which way do you play
it? I have been playing it like a mini-guitar.
I have read elsewhere (maybe it's in my book but I read portuguese
slowly) that it can also be tuned like a mandolin, i.e. in fifths. I
recently took up mandolin and found out a few months after I ditched it
that in Brazil they tune the bandolim like the bottom 4 strings of a
guitar (e-a-d-g). I believe that Garoto played the cavaquinho tuned like
a mandolin--but I am unsure where I heard this.
I'm thinking of going back to the mandolin in the newer tuning. But I'm
also thinking of having a 6-string cavaquinho built so I can get to a low
C, without which I can play almost none of the choro music I have. (84
Chorinhos Famosos - Irmaos Vitale).
Paulo Rocha Oliveira
common, it would be too confusing for me, snce I've been playing guitar for
just over 11 years now. However, since it has smaller frets, I can come up
with some pretty cool voicings on the cavaquinho that would be just
impossible (at least for me) on the guitar.
As far as other tunings go, I really don't know anything about them. I have
no contact with other cavaquinhistas. But I would assume that people who use
it mainly for comping would come up with easier tunings, like an open major
chord, 4ths, etc (depending on the player, I suppose).
Now that we're on the subject, I have a question for other cavaquinhistsas
here in the US: What do you guys do about strings? When I bought my
cavaquinho in Brazil, I brought two sets with me (plus the strings on it
already). I chagned the strings twice, and then it got to a point where
I had to chagne them agins, and had no other strings. What I did was I
used steel guitar strings, but not only did that damage the instrument (too
much tension, I suppose) but the sound wasn't as good. Next week a friend of
mine will be coming from Brazil, and I asked him to bring me some strings.
Has anyone found a suitable substitute here or do all of you still get your
strings from Brazil? Is there a place here in the US (mail order, maybe)
where we can buy cavaquinho strings?
Gerry Scott-Moore
: just over 11 years now. However, since it has smaller frets, I can come up
: with some pretty cool voicings on the cavaquinho that would be just
: impossible (at least for me) on the guitar.
Yeah, I'm doing the same thing. And I love the ability to play voicings
with possible TWO minor/major seconds in them.
: As far as other tunings go, I really don't know anything about them. I have
: no contact with other cavaquinhistas. But I would assume that people who use
: it mainly for comping would come up with easier tunings, like an open major
: chord, 4ths, etc (depending on the player, I suppose).
I've toyed with the idea of having a cavaquinho hybrid built. I want a
low C! I've thought of a 6-string cavaquinho. Then I had a dream the
other night in which I had a 10-string cavaquinho. The top four strings
were in double-choruses like a mandolin. But I also had two single base
strings. I like this imaginary instrument. I wonder what it would cast
to see it built?
: Now that we're on the subject, I have a question for other cavaquinhistsas
: here in the US: What do you guys do about strings? When I bought my
: cavaquinho in Brazil, I brought two sets with me (plus the strings on it
: already)
I did the same. When I got back, I took them to a music store and they
put a micrometer on the strings to find out what their gauge
was. The gauges were a little off from available gauges. They figured
(as do I) that it was due to stretching. The strings were VERY high
tension.
So I got a set of strings (I forget whether they were banjo or
mandolin--but they were loop-ended without the red fuzzies. [Jeez, in
looking just now I knocked it over and gouged a 1-inch scar in the back.
Christ...] Anyway I am thinking about coming down even more for ease of
playing. It can heard this violoa-player's fingers on these steel strings.
As initially measured: 30/22/13/10
As initially replaced: 28/20/12/9
They sound good, but of course are not as loud as a heavier gauge.
I got Ernie Ball, by the way, only because they are more frequently
available in singles.
Geraldo Veiga
Paulo Rocha Oliveira <pau...@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> wrote:
>I tune my cavaquinho D-G-B-E. Though it seems that D-G-B-D is actually more
>common, it would be too confusing for me, snce I've been playing guitar for
>just over 11 years now.
I don't think I have ever seen any of the choro players using a D-G-B-E tuning.
Besides, with a high E you cannot play "Brasileirinho" -- You might as well
get a ukelele :-}. I heard of players tuning it fifths. Joel
Nascimento (Jacob's replacement in E'poca de Ouro and mandolinist with
Camerata Carioca) did that before switching to a "real mandolin".
>
>Now that we're on the subject, I have a question for other cavaquinhistsas
>here in the US: What do you guys do about strings?
I don't have a cavaquinho myself, with my mandolin I experimented with
different gauges of guitar strings until I got to a setup I liked. Music
stores usually carry strings in individual gauges.
--
Geraldo Veiga (908)949-2469 g...@hotlan.att.com
Room 2C-429A g...@research.att.com
101 Crawfords Corner Road
Holmdel, NJ 07733
Paulo Rocha Oliveira
>I don't think I have ever seen any of the choro players using a D-G-B-E tuning.
>Besides, with a high E you cannot play "Brasileirinho"
Huh? Sure I can! What's the problem?
> -- You might as well
>get a ukelele
Now there's a thought! An d should I also change my pandeiro for a tambourine?
:)
>I don't have a cavaquinho myself, with my mandolin I experimented with
>different gauges of guitar strings until I got to a setup I liked.
I see. I tried that too, but the problem was that even when they sounded good,
the guitar stings would cut through the cavaquinho's bridge, damaging the wood.
Since you're doing fine with guitar strings, you probably don't have that
problem with the mandolin.
Paulo.
Geraldo Veiga
Paulo Rocha Oliveira <pau...@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> wrote:
>
>>Besides, with a high E you cannot play "Brasileirinho"
>
I assume that not having the open string in D would make it kind of
hard to do it at Waldir Azevedo speed.
>
>> -- You might as well
>>get a ukelele
>
>Now there's a thought! An d should I also change my pandeiro for a tambourine?
>
> :)
Yes, yes. It would spare the lives of all those cats whose skins end up on
top of pandeiros.
cox barry jerome
(actually it wasn't Paulo but the person he was responding to)
>>I don't have a cavaquinho myself, with my mandolin I experimented with
>>different gauges of guitar strings until I got to a setup I liked.
I know you went through alot of trouble to figure this out, but would you mind
posting a little more detail about your mandolin-to-cavaquinho conversion?
I play samba on guitar, and I have a friend with a mandolin who I bet I could
convince to make the switch. Then with my girlfriend on the caixa de fosforos
we'd have our own little roda de samba!
Thanks,
---barry cox
Gerry Scott-Moore
: Besides, with a high E you cannot play "Brasileirinho" -- You might as well
: get a ukelele :-}. I heard of players tuning it fifths.
I assume that players who tune it in fifths accept that fact that they
cannot play "Brasileirinho".
: Joel
: Nascimento (Jacob's replacement in E'poca de Ouro and mandolinist with
: Camerata Carioca) did that before switching to a "real mandolin".
Don't you mean a "real bandolim" tuned differently from a "real mandolin".
I've read recently that brazilian players tune a mandolin in 4ths
starting with an "E".
///--- Gerldinho
Geraldo Veiga
Gerry Scott-Moore <g...@netcom.com> wrote:
>I assume that players who tune it in fifths accept that fact that they
>cannot play "Brasileirinho".
Maybe not. I remember hearing Joel Nascimento do it as an encore (playing a
mandolin). As usual, at blazing speed. I don't think mere mortals can
replicate it though.
>
>: Joel
>: Nascimento (Jacob's replacement in E'poca de Ouro and mandolinist with
>: Camerata Carioca) did that before switching to a "real mandolin".
>
>Don't you mean a "real bandolim" tuned differently from a "real mandolin".
>I've read recently that brazilian players tune a mandolin in 4ths
>starting with an "E".
Well, Bandolim = Portuguese Mandolin - Not to be confused with the
Neapolitan variety, but still tuned in fifths. Among choro~es, I
have never seen any deviation from the usual G-D-A-E.
>
>///--- Gerldinho
>
Geraldinho do Cavaco -- It has a ring to it, doesn't it?
Gerry Scott-Moore
: I assume that not having the open string in D would make it kind of
: hard to do it at Waldir Azevedo speed.
I've never known the pitch of a string to greatly effect the speed with
which it could be played.
Gerry Scott-Moore
: >Don't you mean a "real bandolim" tuned differently from a "real mandolin".
: >I've read recently that brazilian players tune a mandolin in 4ths
: >starting with an "E".
: Well, Bandolim = Portuguese Mandolin - Not to be confused with the
: Neapolitan variety, but still tuned in fifths. Among choro~es, I
: have never seen any deviation from the usual G-D-A-E.
In the very complete liner notes to Os Ingenuos play Choros From Brazil,
Ricardo Canzio says:
"The bandolim, similar to the better known mandolin, has four double
strings tuned E A D G. It started to be used in choro music at the
beginning of the twentieth century, replacing a bigger instrument of the
same family--the bandola--that had fallen into disuse."
Simply not true, either in distinction of name (similar to...) or in the
tuning?
///--- Geraldinho do Cavaco
:
cavaquinho bought in the US? In Brazil?
And where could I (or someone else) get one?
Many thanks,
Elizabeth
Gerry Scott-Moore
: This is somewhat off-topic, but how much would be a good price for a
: cavaquinho bought in the US? In Brazil?
Exactly on topic. Until this morning I could not have told you where you
could get a cavaquinho ANYWHERE in the US. I've only been greated by
dumbfounded looks and silence with music stores. But yesterday I found a
company that can provide such an instrument. And they'll give you three
days to play it to make sure it's okay.
The company is:
Lark In The Morning
Mendocino, CA
Wk: (707) 964-5569
I don't have an address for them yet, but I do have a catalog on the way
(100 pages). They are also initiating an internet address as we speak.
Maybe they'll haave an ascii catalog soon.
: And where could I (or someone else) get one?
I bought mine in Rio, a Del Veccio. It cost about 150 bucks and I figure
in the USA it would cost twice that. I had some very minor bridge work
done, (enough for the luthier not to charge me!) and had a fine instrument.
I'm still looking for more sources. But I figure for 110 and a minor
set-up fee at a local luthier is well work the price.
Paulo Rocha Oliveira
>This is somewhat off-topic, but how much would be a good price for a
>cavaquinho bought in the US? In Brazil?
I've never seen themin the US. In Brazil, I bought mine for US$30 two
years ago. It's a Gianinni 'Estudo'. It's pretty good, but I'm planning
to buy something better next time I'm down there. I hear that Del Vecchio
makes some pretty good cavaquinhos, and those were around $100 last time I
was there. But the way the prices there are so crazy now, I wouldnt'
doubt it if the Gianinnis are around 100 bucks right now.
As to where to find them, Ireally don't know of any places here in the US,
but in Brazil any music store will have them (especially the Gianinni)/
Paulo.
David B. Thompson
>But the way the prices there are so crazy now, I wouldnt'
>doubt it if the Gianinnis are around 100 bucks right now.
Although you were talking about cavaqhinos (sp?), you jiggled my memory and I
recall a Gianinni guitar I owned nearly 20 years ago. I can't remember much
about it (and have learned a lot since then) except it had the oddest
intonation problem at the fifth position -- turned out that the neck was
slightly "dished" in that position and the extra tension in the strings when
fingered at that position was enough to modify string pitch. I finally traded
it off for a Takamine.
Long story -- short moral. Be sure to take a good careful look at the
instrument before buying. Get return assurance whenever possible.
-=d
=======================================================================
David B. Thompson internet: thom...@sun1.coe.ttu.edu
Civil Engineering Dept. internet: dtho...@coe2.coe.ttu.edu
Texas Tech University internet: wq...@ttacs1.ttu.edu
P.O. Box 41023
Lubbock, Texas 79409-1023 "Get a haircut and get a *real* job."
=======================================================================
ars...@myhost.subdomain.domain
In article <33g2qb$6...@netnews.upenn.edu> you wrote:
: This is somewhat off-topic, but how much would be a good price for a
: cavaquinho bought in the US? In Brazil?
The right place to get a cavaquinho is in Portugal (ok, i'm Portuguese :) ),
it's one of our most popular instruments. Probably you know cavaquinho has
the Havaian Ukelele, the Ukelele has some little diferences and is played in
totaly diferent maner but it was taken to Hawai in the 18 century by a
Portuguese sailor.
: And where could I (or someone else) get one?
In Portugal you may get it by catalog from a store, email me and i will send
you some catalogs.
If are going to buy one you must be very carefull because cavaquinhos
are still made by artesanal means and they are not expensive, but the price of
a good cavaquinho is almost the same as the price of a bad one, so you must
really know what you want. By the way why do want to buy such an instrument?
: Many thanks,
: Elizabeth
PS: Sorry all for may reply adress ars...@myhost.mysubdomain...., but sysadm
doesn't have tin properly instaled. Please use the footer adress.
-----
Arsenio Reis | LINUX,
ars...@lisbbs.uc.pt | the choice of a GNU generation
Geraldo Veiga
<ars...@myhost.subdomain.domain> wrote:
>
>In Portugal you may get it by catalog from a store, email me and i will send
>you some catalogs.
>If are going to buy one you must be very carefull because cavaquinhos
>are still made by artesanal means and they are not expensive, but the price of
>a good cavaquinho is almost the same as the price of a bad one, so you must
>really know what you want.
As with most things coming out of Portugal, they got greatly improved
once they got to Brazil :-} :) :<) (enough smileys?). Rest assured that
there is a huge difference in price between a good and a bad
instrument. Cavaquinhos are no exception. The cheapo ones can be
impossible to tune and will draw blood from your fingers before you can
get a decent sounding chord out of it. In Brazil, the upscale brands
are Soros and Del Vecchio. However, both makers sell "factory" as well
as professional instruments. Take a test drive before you buy one.
>By the way why do want to buy such an instrument?
Blasphemy!!! It is a essential part of the typical Carioca music ensemble.
Both for Choro and Samba. It fills the high end.
-----
Gerry Scott-Moore
Hmm, I'm not sure that I stated this clearly enough in my last post. Let me
try again:
Yesterday I found a company that can provide such an instrument. And
they'll give you three days to play it to make sure it's okay.
The company is:
Lark In The Morning
Mendocino, CA
Wk: (707) 964-5569
This instrument is sold for $110.
I don't have an address for them yet, but I do have a catalog on the way
(100 pages). They are also initiating an internet address as we speak.
Maybe they'll haave an ascii catalog soon.
I'll post more info when I get my catalog and ascertain their address.
Don Porter
g...@netcom.com (Gerry Scott-Moore) writes:
> Yesterday I found a company that can provide such an instrument. And
> they'll give you three days to play it to make sure it's okay.
>
> The company is:
>
> Lark In The Morning
> Mendocino, CA
> Wk: (707) 964-5569
I got a catalog from Lark in the Morning recently. What a gas! They've
got zillions of fun-looking instruments. Haven't ordered anything yet,
but I've sure enjoyed the catalog.
Don Porter por...@rpi.edu