A Standard Bossa Nova Guitar Pattern (Study) Below is a concise descriptive transcription of the common right-hand pattern you can practice on a nylon-string guitar. (Assume 4/4; count “1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &”.)
You can find high-quality, printable PDF resources and tablature from established jazz education platforms. Check out the resources and breakdowns available on sites like Jazz Guitar Online, or explore lesson breakdowns from professional instructors available on Jens Larsen Jazz Guitar. If you want, I can:
For slow, melancholic Bossa (like Corcovado ).
Bossa nova relies on "jazzier" chord extensions. The is considered the most essential major sound for the genre [5.11]. Other common shapes include minor 9ths , dominant 13ths , and half-diminished chords [5.7, 5.11].
This is the fundamental pattern that every guitarist must learn first. It fits perfectly into a single measure of 4/4 time. Bass and Chord together on the downbeat. Beat 2: Chord plays on the "and" (offbeat). bossa nova guitar rhythm pattern pdf
: The fundamental "heartbeat" of the rhythm, often felt as a "one two one two and three and four" pattern.
In Brazilian musical notation, bossa nova is traditionally written in a 24two-fourths
What are you hoping to play with this rhythm? (e.g., The Girl from Ipanema , Corcovado )
1: Play a chord on beat 1
This is the most famous and versatile Bossa Nova pattern. It spans over two bars of 4/4 time and establishes the definitive "push-and-pull" feel of the genre. Notice how the chords anticipate the first beat of the second measure. Measure 1: Beat 1: Bass and Chord together Beat 2: Chord only (on the "and" of 2) Beat 3: Bass only Beat 4: Chord only Measure 2:
Downbeat (1): Play a bass note on beat 1
Let me know how you'd like to . YouTube·JustinGuitar Basic Bossa Nova Guitar Pattern - Jazz Basics
Plays syncopated chords on the off-beats (the "ands") and specific,anticipations of the next chord. Essential Right-Hand Technique Thumb ( ): Plays the lower strings (E, A, D). Index ( ), Middle ( A Standard Bossa Nova Guitar Pattern (Study) Below
To create the classic Brazilian sway, the thumb occasionally "anticipates" the next measure by striking the bass note an eighth-note early (on the "and" of the previous beat). The Chord Comping (The Fingers)
The Ultimate Guide to Bossa Nova Guitar Rhythm Patterns (With PDF Practice Guide)
Beat 1: Chord only (tied from the "and" of beat 4 in measure 1) Beat 2: Bass only Beat 3: Bass and Chord together Beat 4: Chord only (on the "and" of 4) Pattern 2: The Single-Measure Variation