An insightful article on stringing up and playing the Berimbau:
The Berimbau is the main instrument of Capoeira. It is held and played by the Mestre to command the Capoeira game, or jogo, during a Capoeira roda. There are distinct rhythms played that dictate the game to be played by the participants. Although it is seemingly a simplistic and primitive looking instrument, the sounds it creates is complex in both tonality and rhythm.