Some send me some notes! I know part of it is about playing samba, and people complaining about the noise, wanting us to stop!
Listen to as many different versions as possible - recognize that there isn't only one 'right' version, but get to know what the essence of the song is, and how you can shape that essence in different ways. If you can't learn the words, learn to hum the melody.
Patterns
In these tracks, hear the tamborim (played with a bongo sound) pattern on one side of the stereo mix, and the agogo on the other side:
Tamborims: yes, please, mama, I want cake, mama, really really really I want cake, mama.
Agogo: You must anticipate that first note; throw the agogo!
Tamborim & agogo - slow
Tamborim & agogo - medium
Tamborim & agogo - fast
Things are a bit harder to hear on these tracks recorded at a rehearsal:
Caixa pattern for A Batucada dos Nossos Tantãs - just do the accents with your strong hand. Then practice filling in with the other hand.
Mike explaining about the caixa pattern for A Batucada dos Nossos Tantãs
Tamborim pattern for A Batucada dos Nossos Tantãs
Etradas, breques...
Terceira: Alan explains the terceira entrada
Tamborim: Alan explains the tamborim entrada - Alan explains the tamborim entrada again!
Caixa: Alan explains the caixa entrada - Caixas play entrada with just surdos, a couple of times
We all play the entrada and carry on for about 1 minute
We all play the ending in the song - and we all practice the ending a couple of times
Fundo de Quintal - you can see a tan-tan being played, and a repique de mão. Great sound quality, especially on the primeira surdo. It shows the words - look at them, get to know the feel of the words, the cadences, the phrasing. That way, you will get a much better feel for the song - and you'll be able to sing "La la la" to the right tune! It's a medley - only the first two minutes are "Batucada...".
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yN8P_9e7FR8
Next - pagode as it was meant to be played. The only thing missing - where are the beers? You can really hear the tan-tan on this one. And hear how the shaker just lifts it up and pulls everything together when it comes in - it's not always about drums. And people dance in the street.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YlZgaGtjgfo
And another - looks like another professional pagode group: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5Br4fYjom5U
The next - a more amateur version, pared down, not much arrangement, no breaks, not great sound. But I can hear the cavaquinho well on this one, and that kid plays really well, gets a good sound. And hear that typical hand-clapping rhythm at the end.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zP0bgjbLttw
A Batucada dos Nossos Tantãs
D F#
Samba, a gente não perde o prazer de cantar
Am
E fazem de tudo pra silenciar
D7 G
A batucada dos nosso tantãs.
Gm B7
O seu ecoar o samba se refez
E7/9
Seu canto se faz reluzir
Em7 A7
Podemos sorrir outra vez.
D F#m
Samba. eterno delírio de compositor
Am
Que nasce da alma sem pele sem cor
D7 G
Com simplicidade, não sendo vulgar.
Gm
Fazendo da nossa alegria
D B7
Seu habitat natural.
E7/9 A7 D
Samba floresce no fundo de nosso quintal.
B7 Em7 A7
Esse samba é pra você que vive a falar
D B7 Em7
E a criticar, querendo esnobar, querendo acabar
A7 D
Com a nossa cultura popular.
B7 Em7 A7
É bonito de se ver o samba correr
D B7
Pro lado de lá, fronteira não há
Em7
Pra nos dividir
A7 D
Você não samba mas tem que aplaudir.