The rhythm played by the drum section of a Rio samba school is called batucada. It is a fast, syncopated percussive style of samba, performed by a large ensemble known as a bateria.
A bateria combines several instruments rather than relying on one drum. Surdos provide the deep pulse, while caixas, repiniques, tamborims, agogôs, and ganzás add interlocking accents, signals, and rhythmic colour. The result is the driving sound associated with Rio’s Carnival parades.
Batucada developed especially in Rio de Janeiro and Bahia before spreading internationally through Carnival, street performances, and community percussion groups. Its energy comes from layered patterns played together, not simply from playing loudly or quickly.
Frevo is a separate Brazilian style associated especially with Pernambuco, while marcha is a different march-like form. Samba-reggae also has its own Bahian history and is not the generic name for a Rio samba school’s bateria.