Musical Instruments Vocab List

List of Different Musical Instruments in Brazilian Portuguese:

bateria, tambor – drum

flauta – flute

violão  – guitar

harpa  – harp

piano  – piano

teclado – keyboard

saxofone – saxophone

sintetizador  – synthesizer

trompete – trumpet

violino – violin

acordeão – accordion

fagote  – bassoon

violoncelo – cello

clarineta – clarinet

tímpano – kettledrum

oboé  – oboe

tamborim  – tambourine

trombone – trombone

Traditional Brazilian Instruments (used commonly in Samba Music, or “Pagode”)

cavaquinho – the cavaquinho is a small string instrument of the European guitar family with four wires or gut strings.

berimbau – (pictured below) a single-string percussion instrument, a musical bow, from Brazil. This instrument makes a very distinct sound that you will come to recognize in all kinds of Brazilian music.

agogô – this african bell has become a signature instrument in Samba music