The main instruments used in capoeira are:

Berimbau - The lead instrument of the capoeira roda, originating from Central Africa, which dictates the style and speed of the game. It consists of a single string of arame (wire), a biriba (wooden bow), cabaça (gourd), vaqueta (stick), caxixí (woven rattle), and a dobrão (rock or coin).

Atabaque - a drum which is much like a primitive conga, providing the percussive heartbeat of the roda.

Pandeiro – a Brazilian tambourine. When played within a capoeira roda, it has a rhythm similar to that of the atabaque.

A-Go-Go - Another percussive instrument, used especially in samba, consisting of two bells made of iron or steel, struck by a wooden stick.