The instrumentation with various stringed instruments such as the guitar, the four-stringed cavaquinho and the mandolin (pictured) is characteristic. The melodies are often virtuoso runs of sixteenth notes, the rhythmic accompaniment already shows elements of samba, while the harmonic foundations are much simpler than in bossa nova.
One of the most important musicians and founders of the choro was Joaqium Calado, who lived in Rio de Janeiro at the end of the 19th century. He was followed by Ernesto Nazareth, among others, and especially Pixinguinha, whom Tom Jobim described as one of his greatest influences. The compositions by Joao Pernambuco and Heitor Villa-Lobos are particularly well known for the guitar.
One of the most famous choros is Tico Tico by Zequinha de Abreu: