Original Pagode developed in the start of the 1980s, with the advent of Grupo Fundo de Quintal and the introduction of three new instruments in the classical samba formation. Pagode lyricism also represented a kind of evolution towards the tradition of malicious and ironic samba lyrics, with a much heavier use of slang and underground terms (gírias).

The banjo, whose introduction is mostly credited to Almir Guineto, is a banjo cavaquinho. The banjo has a different and louder sound than the cavaquinho; that loudness is an advantage in an acoustic roda de samba where there are lots of percussion instruments and people singing along. The banjo is one of the most characteristic instruments of the pagode sound.

The tan-tan, whose introduction is credited to Sereno, is a more dynamic type of surdo, used to keep the main beat of the samba, the `heart of the samba', and played with the hands.

The repique de mão, whose introduction is credited to Ubirany, is a percussive instrument used specially for rhythmic turnarounds.