The following lesson is an excerpt from Nelson Faria's book, The Brazilian Guitar Book, available on-line at Sher Music. You can also visit Nelson's website. Please purchase the book for more great lessons like this.

Samba Variation #1
Variation #1 is an example of an extended pattern (2 measures long). In this variation, to simulate the agogo (a percussion instrument made of two cowbells - hi and low pitches -held together) you can play the chord changes, switching from low voices to high voices, as suggested.

Notice that variation #1 is the basic pattern in the first measure and its mirror image in the second measure.

In this I-VI-II-V turnaround with a pedal note, I used the pattern with and without the first beat syncopation. The progression is:

D6(9)/A - Adim - A7(9,11) - A9

1999 by Sher Music Co.. All rights reserved. Used by permission.