5 Tips to Feel and Play Samba the Brazilian Way

Samba is more than a rhythm — it’s a feeling, a way of being, and a reflection of Brazilian culture. Over the years, through teaching workshops and private lessons here in the Netherlands, I’ve noticed some key elements that really make a difference when it comes to playing samba authentically. These are not universal truths, but friendly tips based on my experience as a Brazilian musician and from observing many non-Brazilian players. The ones who really play samba well — you can tell they know and apply these things.

1. Know the different types of samba

There are many types of samba: samba-canção, partido alto, samba-enredo, pagode, samba duro, samba de roda, samba de gafieira, and more. You don’t need to know all of them or be an expert in every style. Just understanding the small differences between a few will already change the way you think, play, and feel the music. It gives you more freedom to choose if you want to play within a specific style or mix elements to create your own sound — but do it intentionally, knowing what you’re doing.

2. Learn the classic songs

Get to know the songs that every Brazilian knows. This will make you feel more connected to the culture and give you more confidence when playing samba. Through melodies, you’ll naturally understand how the instruments fit together in the sound spectrum — when to raise or lower the dynamics, which groove fits better, or which chord progressions are typical of the style.

3. Explore other Brazilian rhythms

Musicians who play samba in Brazil are usually familiar with many other rhythms — whether they like them or not. It’s part of the culture: you hear different styles everywhere — on the radio, TV, parties, family gatherings, and even on the streets. So even when a musician only plays samba, they carry a musical background full of other Brazilian rhythms.
I recommend starting with rhythms that have a similar feel or share African roots, since they’ll help you understand and play samba better. Try choro, maxixe, ijexá, samba-reggae, samba duro, or Northeastern styles like baião, xote, maracatu, frevo, and coco.

4. Learn to make music together

Samba is also about community. It’s social music — about belonging and sharing. In samba schools, hundreds of people play together as if they were one big family. In smaller, more relaxed settings, like a backyard samba (roda de samba), you might see 8, 9, 10 or more people playing at the same time, plus everyone around clapping, singing, or dancing. Learning to listen, blend, and interact with others is key to playing samba the real way.

5. Understand a bit of Portuguese

You don’t need to speak Portuguese fluently, but learning a few words will help you connect with the spirit of the music. The language itself is musical. Even small differences in accent — like São Paulo vs. Rio — bring rhythm and playfulness. Many percussion instruments actually came from everyday objects, like the frigideira (frying pan) or prato e faca (plate and knife).
Learn some basic expressions around samba — malandragem, bamba, bacharel, partido alto, cachaça, feijoada — they carry a lot of cultural meaning. You’ll also notice some words are similar to English, like dança = dance, ritmo = rhythm, escola = school, which makes it easier to pick up a few and feel more part of the musical language.

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These are just a few starting points — there’s a lot more to explore when it comes to understanding and feeling samba the Brazilian way. But if you begin here, you’ll already notice big changes in your playing and your connection to the music.

If you have any questions or want to go deeper, feel free to get in touch — I’d be happy to talk, share ideas, or even schedule a lesson.

inta: @waguinhovasconcelos