In the game of capoeira, toques are the rhythms played on the berimbau. Many toques are associated with a specific game (i.e. style and speed of play) though organizations differ on how to play each toque. Capoeira (IPA: ) is an Afro-Brazilian martial art, game, and culture created by enslaved Africans in Brazil during the 17th Century. ... Three Berimbaus The berimbau is a single-string percussion instrument, a musical bow, from Brazil. ...

A note on notation:

= Berimbau note. The arame is struck with the dobrão open and the cabaça away from the stomack for a low note, or dobrão pressing firmly for a high note. IN this notation, notes that are unfilled are played unmuted as opposed to the example below.

= Muted berimbau note (cabaça is held against the body).

= A buzz (strike the arame with the dobrão resting lightly on the arame and the cabaça against the body)

Double and single eighth notes. An eight note is 1/2 a beat.

= A slur (press the dobrão against the arame without striking with the other hand)

= A quarter note rest (1 beat)

= An eighth note rest (1/2 a beat)

= Shows the basic pulse underneath the bar for comparison. Four boxes = 1 beat

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The Traditional Toques

Angola

Used in capoeira angola with the São Bento Pequeno toque. Tempo can range from slow to moderately fast.

The basic: Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Some common variations played by the viola:





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São Bento pequeno

Also known as Angola Invertido (because it switches the high and low notes of Angola). São Bento Pequeno is played as a contra-toque (an inversion of the gunga) by the médio berimbau.

Variations are the same as above, but with H and L swapped. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

São Bento grande

This is a very fast game played with ample movements.

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Santa Maria

A toque used for the not often seen the 'money', game where the players try to pick up a coin purse placed in the center of the roda with their mouths, the melody imitates the corrido Santa Maria, Mãe de Deus. The corrido Apanha Laranja no Chão Tico Tico (não leva com mão, só com pé ou com bico) gives general rule for the game: use your mouth and feet, not your hands. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Cavalaria

Originally used to alert players that the police were coming, the toque imitates the galloping of horses (and some say it sounds like a police siren)to listen and see best player of Brazil, copy and paste in your navigator, or just click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEwaoBIUX18.
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Samba de Roda

This rhythm comes from the traditional Sambas de Roda of Bahia and is perhaps the oldest of the toques listed. It's used as a toque variation for the berimbau viola, as well as for a post-roda celebration.
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Toques Created by Mestre Bimba and Others

São Bento grande de Bimba

Often called São Bento grande de Regional or just Regional. Mestre Bimba’s fast, explosive game seen often in exhibitions. Mestre Bimba (born Manuel dos Reis Machado November 23, 1900, Salvador, Brazil - February 15, 1974) was a mestre (a master practitioner) of the Afro-Brazilian martial art Capoeira. ...

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Iúna

Iúna is an old viola guitar toque used in the sambas of the Recôncavo, Bahia. Bimba, who himself was an accomplished master of the viola de samba, brought it into capoeira as a toque on berimbau. Some say it is also in imitation of the Iúna bird's song. This toque may signal a medium paced game with emphasis almost entirely on acrobatics and usually played with ample distance between partners. Traditionally this game is only played by graduados (experienced students) and in many schools may only be played when a Mestre is present.

It usually switches between one of a set of variations and a repeated common measure. Phrase 1 below represents the basic toque, the others that follow are possible variations:

Phrase 1:
Phrase 2:
Phrase 3:
Phrase 4:
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Benguela

In many schools played extremely close and with much deception. Some schools play this as a slower, safer Regional game.
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Idalina

Another of Mestre Bimba's toques, the accompanying game is played with knives/razors.

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Amazonas/Santa Maria (de Angola)

Amazonas: A welcoming toque used to greet visiting Mestres and guests in some Regional and Contemporânea schools. It has no traditionally associated game though Mestre Camisa is currently developing a game that mimics the movements of Amazonian animals.
Three Versions Below:



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NB. This toque is also called Santa Maria de Angola in some circumstances and is identical to São Bento Grande de Mestre Bimba. What differentiates toques in instances like this is the particular purpose for which it is being played