In capoeira, the Berimbau commands the game, setting the tone for the kind of game to be played. Over the years several distict berimbau rhythms called toques have emerged as part of capoeira. Learning to play the various berimbau toques is important for the following reasons:

• It helps in improvisation, using all the different sounds of the berimbau.
• It helps you get more in tune with the rhythm of each game type.
• Enables you to fully participate in the bateria as either Gunga, Medio or Viola.

The various toques of the berimbau can be divided into three categories:

• Angola

  These are rhythms regularly used in Capoeira Angola.

• Regional

  These are rhythms mostly developed by Mestre Bimba and used in Capoeira Regional

• Traditional

  These are traditional capoeira rhythms.