Abel Cardoso graduated from the Escola de Música de Nossa Senhora do Cabo, in Linda-a-Velha, where his teacher was Carlos Voss. He obtained his Degree from the Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa, where he studied with Richard Buckley and Carlos Voss. For his Masters in Music Teaching and Performance his tutor was Pedro Carneiro.

Throughout his training he performed with the Orquestra da Juventude and the Orquestra Sinfónica Juvenil, amongst others. As a professional, he has played with the Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa, the Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, the Orquestra de Câmara de Cascais e Oeiras, the Orquestra do Algarve and the City of London Orchestra. He has also performed in several concerts with the Strasbourg Percussionists, Ensemble Intercontemporain (Paris), Ensemble Xenakis (U.S.A.) and Remix Ensemble.

In the field of chamber music, he is a founding member of the Rhythm Method percussion sextet and artistic director of the Percussionistas de Lisboa, with whom he recorded the Bach Marimbas CD.

He has taught at the Escola Profissional de Música de Évora, at the Almada, Alhandra, Palmela and Linda-a-Velha Music Schools and at the Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa.