Samba

Samba is the sound of Brazil's carnival: huge drum groups, whistles and dancers parading through the streets.

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Where samba comes from

Samba comes from Brazil, and has roots in the music brought by enslaved Africans, mixed with other influences.
It is famous from the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, where samba schools (escolas de samba) parade with dancers, costumes and a big percussion section called the bateria.

The instruments

Samba instruments:
InstrumentWhat it is
SurdoA large, deep bass drum that keeps the pulse
CaixaA snare drum, playing busy patterns
RepiniqueA high-pitched drum, often used to play calls
TamborimA small frame drum played with a stick
AgogoA double bell with two pitches
GanzaA metal shaker
ApitoA whistle, used by the leader to give signals

How samba works

The leader (the mestre) uses the apito and hand signals to direct the group.
The main groove is built from layered ostinatos, giving a thick texture with polyrhythm.
Call and response passes between the leader and the group.
Breaks are short contrasting sections where the groove stops and a different rhythm is played, before everyone returns to the main groove.
Samba uses lots of syncopation: accents on the off-beats, between the main beats.
Worked example

Describe the job of the surdo and the apito in a samba band.

  1. The surdo is the large bass drum.
  2. It plays a steady low pattern that keeps the pulse for everyone.
  3. The apito is the whistle: the leader uses it to signal breaks, starts and stops.

Answer: The surdo keeps the pulse with deep bass notes; the apito is the leader's whistle for signals.

Key idea

Samba comes from Brazil and is famous from the Rio de Janeiro carnival. Instruments include the surdo, caixa, repinique, tamborim, agogo, ganza and apito. It uses layered ostinatos, call and response, breaks and syncopation.

Key words
Call and response
A leader plays or sings a phrase (the call) and a group answers (the response).
Syncopation
Accents placed off the beat, between the main beats.
Texture
How many layers of sound there are and how they fit together.
Polyrhythm
Several different rhythms played at the same time.

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Quick check

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. Which city's carnival is famous for samba?

    1. Kingston
    2. Havana
    3. Madrid
    4. Rio de Janeiro
    Show the answer

    Answer: Rio de Janeiro

    Samba is linked to the Rio carnival.

  2. Which samba instrument is the large bass drum?

    1. Agogo
    2. Ganza
    3. Surdo
    4. Apito
    Show the answer

    Answer: Surdo

    The surdo holds the pulse.

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Sources and references

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.