A Surdo Glossary

Disclaimer: Most definitions are specifically related to surdos, samba, and this website. Not all definitions are universal. The world of surdos is not an exact science, and terms are often regional.

1) A Brazilian hand drum, similar to a conga or West African kpanlogo, used in candomblé and umbanda ceremonies.
2) Any of various, usually single-headed, Brazilian drums, played with hands and/or sticks.

alfaia	A bass drum, similar to a surdo, used in maracatu and forró music around Recife. Alfaias are wooden barrel drums with two cowhide heads and rope tuning. They are played with two thick, contoured wooden sticks.
atabaque	1) A Brazilian hand drum, similar to a conga or West African kpanlogo, used in candomblé and umbanda ceremonies. 2) Any of various, usually single-headed, Brazilian drums, played with hands and/or sticks.
axé	A style of Brazilian pop music from Bahia since about 1985. It incorporates rock or jazz with Brazilian and Caribbean rhythms, including samba and reggae. Surdos are often used in the percussion.
Bahia	A state on the central east coast of Brazil. Has a renowned celebration for Carnaval with a style distinct from the ostentatious parades in Rio.
Bahia-style surdo	A surdo drum of shallower construction than a Rio-style surdo. The head diameter is generally greater than the depth of the shell.
beater	A drum mallet.
bloco afro	An organization of people centered around the performance of afro-based Brazilian rhythms and celebration of black or African culture. Often extends out into a community largely of African descendants. Most often associated with Bahia.
calf-skin head	A drumhead made of natural animal hide from a calf. Thinner than cowhide.
Carnaval	A Catholic celebration in February or March. A time when people enjoy excitement, intoxication, and sexual pleasure before the self-imposed abstinence of Lent. Called "Mardi Gras" in French and "Carnival" in Spanish.
centrador	The third part, cutting, or counter rhythm in samba.
cortador	("cutter") The third part or counter rhythm in samba.
corte	("cutting") A counter rhythm to accentuate the marking surdos. Sometimes echos the agogô or repinique part.
damping	Restraining the pitch, loudness, and/or duration of a drum beat.
dobra	Lead or fill part in samba-reggae and other bloco afro rhythms.
drumhead	A membrane of natural or artificial materials that produces the sound for most drums through vibration.
fundo	Marcação part in samba-reggae and other bloco afro rhythms.
high marcação	The higher-pitched of the two marking beats of a samba. This is independent of the marcação segunda which is the first beat of the 2/4 rhythm.
low marcação	The lower-pitched of the two marking beats of a samba. This is independent of the marcação primeira which is the second beat of the 2/4 rhythm.
major triad	The first, third, and fifth notes of a major chord. For instance, the major triad for the key of A would be A, C#, and E.
maracanã	A very large surdo, usually 26" or larger, named after a stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
marcação	1) A surdo drum playing a marking beat in samba. 2) The marking beat pattern of a samba. 3) A time-marking part of a samba rhythm.
marcação primeira	("primary marking") The second, anchoring, beat of a 2/4 samba rhythm. Also, marcão.
marcação segunda	("secondary marking") The first, answering, beat of a 2/4 samba rhythm. Also, reposta.
marcação tercero	("terciary marking") The third, cutting, beat of a 2/4 samba rhythm.
marcão	("marking") The second, anchoring, beat of a 2/4 samba rhythm. Also, marcação primeira.
marcador	("marker") See marcação.
martelo	A kind of drone beat in certain bloco afro ensembles. The drum often has a napa head and plays all four marcação beats.
Mylar	A thin sheet of polyester plastic.
Napa (Nappa)	Sometimes called "Napa leather". This is a drum head with two layers, the inner one of thin Mylar, the outer of a thick vinyl/cloth combination called Naugahyde. There is no actual leather in a napa drumhead.
Recife	A city near the easternmost tip of Brazil. Hotbed of forró and maracatu.
reposta	("answering") The first beat of a 2/4 samba rhythm. Also, marcação segunda. Answers the corte.
Rio-styled surdo	A surdo drum with a deep shell. Generally, the depth of the shell is about equal to or greater than the diameter of the drumhead. Most of the major production models are made in São Paulo.
Salvador	A city in the state of Bahia. Acknowledged as the city with the largest black population after Lagos, Nigeria. Known as "Roma Negra" ("Black Rome").
samba reggae	A hybrid of samba, reggae, and West African rhythms. Mestre Neguinho do Samba of the Salvadoran group, Olodum, is credited with developing this style.
sambista	1) A female samba dancer. 2) Any performer of samba music or dance.
shell	The metal, wooden, or plastic cylindrical body of a drum.
staccato	A series of quick, clear beats.
surdão	A large surdo.
surdo terremoto	("earthquake") Another name for a large surdo.
surdo treme terra	("earth tremors") Yet another name for a large surdo.
tirante	Portuguese name for a tuning rod.
tuning rods	Six to sixteen steel rods that connect the top head of a surdo drum to the bottom one. Nuts on one end allow the two drum heads to be tuned simultaneously.
virada	Lead or fill part in samba-reggae and other bloco afro rhythms.