Members dcatkinson Posted June 20, 2007 Members Share Posted June 20, 2007 Hi I'm trying to find out what exactly are the differences between the cavaquinho and ukulele. Specifically, I want to learn cavaquinho and I'm wondering if its possible restring/retune my ukulele. Or if that isn't possible, where I can find/buy cavaquinhos. Thanks, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 32-20-Blues Posted June 20, 2007 Members Share Posted June 20, 2007 The cavaquinho is most commonly tuned D-G-B-D, as opposed to the uke, which is generally tuned, as you know, G-C-E-A. Without swapping around strings to achieve the right gauge in the right place, I don't see how a uke could be tuned as a cavaquinho, even though the two instruments are related; I have heard that the uke developed from the cava. However, chord fingerings and melody lines on the cava are very easy to play without any experience on the instrument. I have seen a player tune the highest string to E (so that the tuning is now D-G-B-E), and play it exactly as you would play the highest four strings of a standard tuned guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted June 20, 2007 Members Share Posted June 20, 2007 Here are some Giannini cavaquinhos. Music123 might have few since they carry some Giannini instruments. I've been interested in Brazilian music for a while and have thought about getting one, but still haven't. I love the sound--punchier than a uke. And those choro cavaquinho players sound fantastic. Ukes are hip, but in an odd way. Most people when they hear "uke" they think Tiny Tim--hardly any think of Jake. But say "cavaquinho" and only the cognoscenti will think choro! BTW, here's a chord chart. As far as restringing, I don't think ukes are braced for steel strings--so you might have some problems. As far as tuning, most ukes (except the baritone and some tenors) use re-entrant tunings while cavas don't, which makes the string guages different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twanguero Posted June 22, 2007 Members Share Posted June 22, 2007 Yep, the cavaquinhos have steel strings and ukes have nylon. Can't really turn one into the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted June 22, 2007 Members Share Posted June 22, 2007 There are steel-strung ukes available, but they're mostly electrics... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members garthman Posted June 22, 2007 Members Share Posted June 22, 2007 Yep, the cavaquinhos have steel strings and ukes have nylon. Can't really turn one into the other. You could probably get away with a either a very thin gauge steel string (8's) or better still a low tension string like Thomastick 'Precision' or 'Rope' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PhilUSAFRet Posted January 13, 2009 Members Share Posted January 13, 2009 Some Cavaquinhos even come with GCEA Tuning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PhilUSAFRet Posted January 13, 2009 Members Share Posted January 13, 2009 Could probably get away with the same steel strings on my RISA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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