Berimbau

The berimbau is a single-string percussion instrument, a musical bow, originally from Africa and now most commonly associated with the martial art of capoeira. It consists of a wooden bow (verga) that holds a steel string (arame) taut. A gourd (cabaça), attached to the bottom of the bow, acts as a resonator.

The player strikes the string with a thin stick (baqueta), typically made of wood or bamboo. Simultaneously, a small stone or coin (dobrão or pedra) is pressed against the string to change the pitch. The player also often holds a caxixi, a woven rattle filled with seeds, in the hand that holds the baqueta.

The berimbau is not simply a musical instrument but also a vital component of the roda (the circle in which capoeira is played). Different berimbau rhythms dictate the style and pace of the capoeira game. Three main types of berimbau are commonly used: the gunga (bass), which provides the foundational rhythm; the médio (middle), which plays a variation on the gunga's rhythm; and the viola (high), which improvises and interacts most actively with the players in the roda. The interplay between these instruments creates the musical atmosphere that shapes the capoeira experience.