Our 2 bell agogos are properly tuned with a flexible handle so that the bells can be clicked together as well as hit with a wooden stick (supplied). Our 4 bell agogo is the original model and make used in several modern Rio baterias, not a cheaper copy. We stock good quality tuned agogos made for samba.

The agogo was used in Brazil to provide the structure of Baiao, Maracatu, Capoeira and in the sacred music of religious cults of african origin (such as candomble), before it was used in samba. It is thought to be one of the oldest samba band instruments. The traditional form of this instrument in Brazil is the 2 bell agogo. It has been out of style in Rio baterias but the 2 bell agogo has recently been making a comeback.

The 4 bell samba agogo was invented in the middle of the 20th century in the bateria of the samba school Imperio Serrano. You can sometimes find 3 bell samba agogos, but they are not common in Brazilian samba, are rarely properly tuned, and we do not sell them on these pages. They are not usually used in samba bands.