Keep your right hand relaxed and floating slightly above the soundhole. When plucking the chords, pull your fingers inward toward your palm simultaneously to ensure all notes ring out exactly at the same time. Step-by-Step Practice Progression Step 1: Isolate the Bassline
If you open a standard , you will likely see a single measure repeated ad infinitum. The most common pattern is a variation of the syncopated rhythm written below (mentally imagine this):
: Usually alternates between the root and the fifth of the chord [5.10, 5.26]. These notes fall consistently on beats 1 and 3 (or every quarter note in some variations) to anchor the "sexy march" feel of the genre [5.8, 5.20, 5.23].
This separation of bass and chord tones is the foundational concept of Bossa Nova guitar. If you play a strum where the bass and treble hit simultaneously with equal force, you are playing a folk or rock rhythm, not Bossa Nova. bossa nova guitar rhythm pattern pdf
The classic Bossa Nova groove relies on a specific division of labor between the thumb and fingers of your plucking hand. Bossa Nova is traditionally felt in , though it is frequently written in 4/4 time for easier reading in jazz fake books. The Bass Line (The Thumb)
[Click Here to Download Your Free Bossa Nova Guitar Rhythm Pattern PDF]
Because your fingers pluck three strings at once, you will generally look for voicings that sit on four adjacent strings (usually the E-A-D-G strings or A-D-G-B strings). Root on the 6th String (Example: G6/9) 3rd fret (Thumb - Root) A string: Muted D string: 2nd fret (Index) G string: 2nd fret (Middle) B string: 3rd fret (Ring) Root on the 5th String (Example: Cmaj9) A string: 3rd fret (Thumb - Root) D string: 2nd fret (Index) G string: 4th fret (Middle) B string: 3rd fret (Ring) E string: Muted 4. How to Read and Practice the Pattern PDF Keep your right hand relaxed and floating slightly
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Chords land on beat 1, the "and" of beat 2, and beat 4.
Before adding the syncopation, practice alternating your bass notes on beats 1 and 3 (the root note) and beats 2 and 4 (the fifth interval of the chord). Keep this completely mechanical and steady. Step 2: Add the Anticipation The most common pattern is a variation of
The classic Bossa Nova guitar pattern compresses all three of these voices into two hands. Your thumb plays the bass (the Surdo). Your fingers play the syncopated harmony (the Tamborim).
This classic pattern, popularized by João Gilberto, creates the "Bossa Nova Clave." Hit on 1 , the "and" of 2 , and beat 4 . Bar 2: Hit on the "and" of 1 , beat 3 , and beat 4 .