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Capoeira Instruments Part 3: The Agogo
The Agogo is the smallest instrument used in the capoeira roda.
It can be made up of metal, wood, or nuts.
Though it is the smallest, nevertheless it still plays an important role in the bateria.
The agogo is the first instrument a beginner capoeira musician should try as it is the easiest to pick up and learn.
It is made up of two different sized bells/nuts and has 2 sounds: high and low.
Agogo Sounds
To play in the capoeira roda, it’s as simple as High, Low, High.
Played in a basic 4 beat, beats 1 and 3 is the low note, beat 2 is the high note, and beat 4 is a rest.
1 2 3 4
High - Low - High - Rest
Agogo Basic Play
The agogo is also played in the same beat and rhythm as the clapping during a roda.
Variations in playing can be done but are usually only short simple riffs as to not take focus off of the berimbau.
As in the case of all instruments, all variations should revert back to the basic way of playing.
Agogo Variations
Agogo needs to be in sync with the pandeiro and atabaque.
If it’s hit at the wrong time, it can be very obvious and distracting.
In the roda, all instruments must complement each other and must not be played louder than the berimbau.
