Berimbao, a 65-centimeter, single-string instrument. For overtone music and singing. Perfect for beginners or students!

🎵 Boomerang Berimbao

📐 Dimensions

Total length: 65 centimeters

Shorter than the traditional berimbau (usually ~1.2 m), making it more portable and practical for demonstrations, children, or experimental/design use.

🪵 Materials

Bow (verga) :

Made from tropical hardwood (e.g. ipê, jatobá, massaranduba, etc.)

Strength required for rope tension.

The boomerang design can give a more contemporary or symbolic look, while still maintaining the bow function.

Tuning peg (arame or tarracha): Made of wood, which is original (often metal on traditional models).

Allows you to adjust the tension of the string, and therefore the tuning of the sound.

Sound box (cabaça): Made from natural calabash, pierced and dried.

Attached to the bow with a leather or string tie, and held against the belly during play.

Can be varnished or raw, depending on the desired finish.

🎶 Function and sound

The string (often a steel wire or thin metal cord) is stretched along the bow.

We play with:

A baqueta (stick) to strike the string.

A dobrao (metal piece or flat stone) to modify the tones.

And sometimes a caxixi (small rattle) held in the hand.

The short shape and gourd give a higher, more focused sound than the traditional berimbau.

🎨 Use and aesthetics

Ideal for:

Capoeira musicians looking for a more portable or stylish instrument.

Craftsmen or designers seeking a fusion between tradition and modern design.

Ethnic-musical decoration with real sound potential.

The boomerang design may evoke the idea of sound returning.

A fusion of Australian (boomerang) and Brazilian/African (berimbau) indigenous cultures.

📦 Technical summary