Bossa Nova Chord Progressions
Bossa nova is jazz harmony filtered through Brazilian rhythm. Jobim's vocabulary leans on ii–V–I, but with constant modal interchange and chromatic root motion. The famous "Girl from Ipanema" intro modulates through a circle of secondary dominants.
Defining characteristics
- →ii–V–I cadences in major and minor
- →Tritone substitutions for chromatic bass
- →Maj7 and m7 as the default chord qualities
- →Modal interchange via ♭VI and ♭III
- →Slow, steady tempo with the bossa rhythm pattern
Example progressions
Bossa ii–V–I
iim7 – V7 – Imaj7 – VI7 · C major
Dm7G7Cmaj7A7
The VI7 turnaround pulls back to the ii of the next cycle.
Modal bossa
Imaj7 – ♭VIImaj7 – Imaj7 – ♭VImaj7 · C major (modal)
Cmaj7B♭maj7Cmaj7A♭maj7
Jobim used this kind of stepwise motion in "Wave" and "Triste".
Songs in this style
The Girl from Ipanema — Jobim
Fmaj7 – G7 – Gm7 – F♯7
Corcovado — Jobim
Am7 – D7 – Gmaj7 – Bm7♭5
Generate your own bossa nova chord progressions
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