Introduction
Bossa Nova, which translates to “new trend” or “new wave” in Portuguese, is a style of Brazilian music that originated in the 1950s. It is characterized by its unique blend of samba rhythms, jazz harmonies, and lyrical melodies. This style is deeply rooted in the musical tradition of Brazil, and its influence can be heard in many other genres of music.
Rhythmic Characteristics
The rhythmic feel of Bossa Nova is typically in 2/4 or 4/4 time signature, with a strong emphasis on the second beat. This creates a sense of forward motion, often described as a “swaying” or “lilt” feel. The rhythm is often driven by the surdo drum, which plays a steady pattern on beats 1 and 3, while the tamborim plays a syncopated pattern on the “and” of beat 2.
Surdo: | 1 | & | 2 | & | 3 | & | 4 | & |
Tamborim: | --- | &-x | --- | --- | --- | &-x | --- | --- |
[!NOTE] The “and” of beat 2 is where the tamborim plays, creating a sense of tension and release.
Harmonic & Melodic Structure
The harmonic structure of Bossa Nova is often based on i-vi-ii-V7 chord progressions, with a strong emphasis on extended chords such as maj9, 7#9, and m7b5. The melodies are often lyrical and improvisational, with a focus on modal interchange and altered scales.
Phase 1: Fundamentos (The Seed)
To start playing Bossa Nova, it’s essential to understand the core rhythmic pattern and foundational harmony. Start with a simple i-vi-ii-V7 progression, and focus on playing a steady rhythm with a strong emphasis on the second beat.
| Cmaj7 | Am7 | Dm7 | G7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C - E - G - B | A - C - E - G | D - F - A - C | G - B - D - F |
[!TIP] Focus on playing the “and” of beat 2 with a slight delay, creating a sense of tension and release.
Phase 2: Desarrollo (The Growth)
As you become more comfortable with the core rhythmic pattern and harmony, you can start to add more complexity and nuance to your playing. Experiment with different chord voicings, such as rootless voicings and shell voicings, and focus on developing a strong sense of voice leading.
| Cmaj9 | Am9 | Dm9 | G7#9 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C - E - G - B - D | A - C - E - G - B | D - F - A - C - E | G - B - D - F - A |
[!IMPORTANT] Focus on maintaining a strong sense of forward motion, even as you add more complexity to your playing.
Phase 3: Maestría (The Flower)
At the advanced level, you can start to explore more complex reharmonizations, such as tritone substitutions and modal interchange. Experiment with different improvisational approaches, such as motivic development and call-and-response.
| Cmaj7 | Ebmaj7 | Abmaj7 | Dm7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C - E - G - B | Eb - G - Bb - D | Ab - C - Eb - G | D - F - A - C |
[!TIP] Focus on creating a sense of tension and release, using techniques such as appoggiaturas and neighbor notes.
Practice Challenge / Reto Práctico
To develop your skills in playing Bossa Nova, try the following exercise:
- Start with a simple i-vi-ii-V7 progression, and focus on playing a steady rhythm with a strong emphasis on the second beat.
- Experiment with different chord voicings, such as rootless voicings and shell voicings.
- Focus on developing a strong sense of voice leading, and experiment with different improvisational approaches.
Key Terms Glossary
- Bossa Nova: a style of Brazilian music that originated in the 1950s.
- Samba: a style of Brazilian music that is characterized by its fast tempo and complex rhythms.
- Jazz: a style of music that originated in the southern United States, characterized by its use of improvisation and blue notes.
- Lyrical: a type of melody that is characterized by its use of smooth, flowing lines and a focus on storytelling.
- Modal interchange: a technique used in music to create tension and release by borrowing chords and scales from parallel modes.
- Altered scales: a type of scale that is used to create tension and release, often used in jazz and improvisational music.
- Extended chords: a type of chord that includes additional notes beyond the basic triad, such as seventh chords and ninth chords.
- Surdo: a type of drum used in samba music, characterized by its deep, resonant sound.
- Tamborim: a type of drum used in samba music, characterized by its high-pitched, sharp sound.
- Voice leading: the practice of moving individual voices within a chord progression to create a smooth, logical flow.
- Reharmonization: the process of changing the harmony of a piece of music, often used to create tension and release.
- Tritone substitution: a technique used in music to create tension and release by substituting a chord with a chord a tritone away.