Brazilian music is often classified under Latin music, however they really are different in instrumentation and feel. They may share some of the same roots but are not interchangeable. First lets take a brief look at the types of percussion instruments found in Brazilian music, a couple main concepts to the rhythmic structure and feel, and some different styles that are commonly found in Brazilian music.

There are a wide array of percussion instruments found in Brazilian music. A common misconception is that congas and bongos are typical Brazilian instruments. Both the congas and the bongos are found in Afro-Cuban styles of music and are not common to Brazilian styles. You may find either of those instruments being played in Brazilian pop music but they are not common to Brazilian folklore. The closest drums to congas in Brazilian music are the atabaque and the timbal. The atabaque is very conga-like in sound and appearance as well as being played with the hands. The timbal is also played with the hands but sounds like a cross between a conga and a djembe and its appearance is a long cylindrical drum that tapers down to a smaller diameter at its base. A few other instruments, which will be discussed in greater detail in later articles, are the surdo, caixa, ago-go, tamborim, repinique, cuica, pandeiro, berimbau, drum set, chocalho, reco-reco, etc.

Brazilian music is usually written with two beats per measure. If the arrangement is written in 4/4, you should play it in 2/2 in order to keep the feel of the piece in two. Syncopation is very important in Brazilian music and has a strong up-beat feel. The most common feel or rhythm is the one below.

If you connect two of these figures together then you will achieve the syncopated feel that is common to Brazilian music. See the figure below.

The other rhythm we are going to touch on is the basic Brazilian clave. It doesn't function like the clave does in the Afro-Cuban styles but is good to know. See below.

There are many styles of music within the Brazilian realm. They are influenced by religion, region, and neighborhoods. Allow me to list a few, and keep in mind that some of these styles influenced others as well. The first one, and probably the most associated with Brazilian music, is Samba. There are several Sambas such as Batucada, Samba-Cancaó, Samba Enredo, Partido Alto, etc. Another style of Brazilian music that is well known is the Bossa Nova. Other styles are Afoxé, Baiaó, Capoeira, Catereté, etc.

Brazilian music is certainly a genre that is very separate from Afro-Cuban styles and shouldn't be lumped into "Latin Music." There are a plethora of terms, styles, instruments, and performers that are associated solely with Brazilian music. Next time "Latin Music" comes up, be sure to clarify what genre is meant, exactly, in order to properly convey the correct feel and style.

Megan Thomas, percussionist from Chicago, is an active performer and teacher. She currently plays percussion with Chicago-land's premier steel drum band, OD TAPO IMI (www.odtapoimi.com), as well as playing drum set with an all original rock band from Chicago called Reptoids (www.reptoids.net). She has played in numerous bands over the years, opening up for acts ranging from Jimmy Buffet to Evil Beaver to Foreigner to Johnny Clegg while playing in venues from House of Blues to Alpine Valley to The Park West. She has experience in a plethora of musical genres: latin, pop, rock, blues, punk, fusion, latin-jazz, salsa, world, folk, soca, calypso, classical, etc. In addition to being an active performer, she plays sessions at recording studios, performs with jobbing bands, puts on world percussion seminars, facilitates drum circles, writes for freemusiceducation.com and chicagomusicguide.com, and teaches private lessons at North Shore Music Institute.

Megan Thomas
www.myspace.com/mtpercussion