Top Five Bossa Nova Songs + How to Play the Bossa on Guitar

Chords and melody TABS here ▶ bit.ly/3EOTHbS
These are the top 5 Bossa Novas I think every guitarist should know and how to play the basic bossa nova rhythm on guitar. Use this bossa beat to play the chords of these 5 classic Brazilian songs.
Every nylon string guitar player should have some bossa novas at the ready at all times!
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[@JazzBear]

Jobim wrote the song, Wave, for a girl he knew. I actually met that girl many years ago. It was obvious why he wrote her the song. She was stunning.

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Wow awesome!

[@robertocarlosdasilva3470]

A música chama-se garota de Ipanema

[@raindogtom]

loved it the first time I heard it ;)

[@hannibalclark6111]

The Lyrics by Vinicius moraes.

[@johnp.noblejr.7214]

Wrong song. The song you’re actually referring to is The Girl from Ipanema. The song was inspired by Heloísa Eneida Menezes Paes Pinto (now known as Helô Pinheiro), a seventeen-year-old girl living on Montenegro Street in Ipanema.[15] Daily, she would stroll past the Veloso bar-café, not just to the beach ("each day when she walks to the sea"), but in the everyday course of her life. She would sometimes enter the bar to buy cigarettes for her mother and leave to the sound of wolf whistles.[16] In the winter of 1962, the composers saw the girl pass by the bar. Him wrote the song with Portuguese lyrics by Vinicius de Moraes.

[@MarcoCastilloWorld]

I’m a Brazilian musician and this the best bossa nova vídeo explanation Scot, congrats on your great work. The Brazilian guitar was based on the percussion sambainstruments.

[@ramirreyes6414]

It seems to me that Bossa Nova relies on Latin beats. Are you saying that the guitar riff came after the percussion rhythm? The beat requires me to hit a lots of "ands" as I just tapped my drumsticks on the desk right now but I can also do it on the rim on my snare drum.

[@edgaralbasini6226]

​@@ramirreyes6414 what means latin beats?

[@ramirreyes6414]

@@edgaralbasini6226 I was referring to South American percussion rhythms.

[@edgaralbasini6226]

@@ramirreyes6414 so..afro-(south)0americans...because samba and bossa rythms are from afro origin...reminding that even V. de Moraes and Badden Powel released album. called 'Os Afro-Sambas'.

[@aschneider70]

You are pretty right! It is very interesting to see how a American explain and see our natural rhythm.

[@joannerichards1750]

Thx, Scot. Bonfa, Jobim, Gilberto, and Mendes are the makers of the music of my life. In '64, I first heard Ipanema on the Sunday morning radio jazz show in Pittsburgh while on a drive with dad, a saxophonist who considered Getz as a god. We were both knocked out by the laid-back beat, the chords, the solos, and the vocals. My life seemed to have changed at that moment. When dad lay on his deathbed, I played tapes of the classic Getz/Gilberto album (including, of course, Antonio and Astrud). The Bossa Nova Brazilians made a mark that will never die.

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Very nice comment JoAnne thank you

[@margolies0]

I feel like you could use all Jobim songs for the top five. Even with the over exposure of Girl from Ipanema, I think Jobim is underappreciated. This guy was the Einstein of latin jazz fusion and his bossa nova songs are like the theory of relativitiy. There are some really smart, talented people who can understand and explain it but it is mind boggling that one guy came up with that stuff.

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Totally. The song Surfboard is awesome and I’ve seen some crazy solo guitar arrangements of it

[@somenoonsomenoon8874]

The King of Bossa Nova

[@heitor63261]

Fvck off bro, Jobim truly is a mastermind, but names such as Paulinho Nogueira, João Gilberto, Baden Powell, Toquinho and many others are really important when it comes to the foundation of bossa nova, not to mention the roots of samba, which is something really REALLY big when it comes to the rhythm and harmony of the bossa nova. Antonio Carlos Jobim truly is a genius, but you shouldn’t exclude many others names who contributed to that scene. He truly isn’t an “underappreciated” name, Doryval Caymmi, Garoto, Paulinho Nogueira, João Gilberto, Baden Powell, those are the truly “underappreciated” guitarists/singers, at least by the foreign community…

[@heitor63261]

Maybe they did not contributed to the mainstream like Tom Jobim did, but they really deserve a spot

[@markwright4385]

Stan goetz had some stuff too

[@monirodacosta6074]

Bossa nova songs to know 1- Gentle rain 2- The girl from ipanema 3- Corcovado 4- Black Orpheus 5 - Wave

[@fabioctbr]

Hey, nice playlist! I'm actually from Brazil and I use to listen to Bossa Nova most of the time, I play it on the guitar too, it is one of my favourite things to do on my leisure time. So, to get it fuller with good Bossa Nova, I will leave some of my suggestions here! - Chega de Saudade - Desafinado - Saudade fez um samba - Você vai ver - Samba de verão - Só tinha de ser com você - Águas de março - Brigas nunca mais - O pato - Samba de uma nota só - Onde anda você - O barquinho - Maria moita I hope it helps someone who's into listening to this musical genre!

[@gabriele3716]

Le migliori spiegazioni sulle tecniche che ho trovato finora su web. Chiare e utili senza fronzoli inutili.

[@TiberiusStorm]

This little part is really nice sounding! 2:44

[@dmsanct]

i love playing bossa nova on the guitar. it is so difficult to learn but it makes your playing so much better

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Absolutely!

[@artvandelay1555]

Corcovado, Insensitive and Gentle Rain are my short list, exactly in that order. I am occupied with other guitar projects at the moment, but will make time. I have always loved the Brazilian sounds and the chords used. I am in the SD area, so will make it to the shop. I heard "Wave" everywhere during the 60's. Thanks for this!

[@weejim48]

Thank you for this video. I am 67 & have been learning guitar for 27 of those years. Of course I can play lots of songs and tunes but I don’t consider myself a guitarist because , a/ it’s not my profession and b/ there’s just so many different styles of music to play. This is my first attempt at bossa nova so here goes.👍👍🙏

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

As long as you’re playing guitar, you are a guitarist!

[@brianclark4040]

I’m using this video to help soothe my daughter to sleep. Bossa nova always makes me smile. I’m American but my parents played “easy listening” radio stations when I grew up. Lots of elevator bossa novas but the music speaks for itself. Bossa nova feels idyllic. Like a summer breeze that you remember years later when you catch some familiar scent. My favorite is not on the list though. My favorite Bossa nova will always be Aguas de Março! Elis Regina com Tom Jobim o Marisa Monte com David Byrne.

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Nice! Not the first time I’ve been told I put people to sleep…

[@skidogbill]

Bossas are so fun to play chord melody on. Great vid.

[@luckydog-287]

Great lessons! Great kknowledge! Great style! Thank you!

[@truesurrealist]

Love your lessons, and advice!

[@KurniadiPrathomo-sp5zd]

Thanks for the teaching, Scot.

[@michaelmckinney7240]

Great tutorial Scot I love Bossa Nova and play this style sometimes with a drum machine and I'm in heaven. Thanks Scot.

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Cool 😎

[@paoladecesare24000]

Suono da tantissimi anni la bossa nova e non l'avevo mai vista e/o sentita spiegare così bene! Congrats and thanks so much for sharing🙏👏👏👏🌈❤️

[@chirilas5217]

Great lesson Scot.

[@isaelx9349]

Thank you much Scot for the free tabs!!🎶🎸👍

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

My pleasure!

[@JamesW225]

How did you sign up for his e mail list to get the tabs? I subscribed but they wouldnt down load

[@StewartGartland]

This is very well put together. Your delivery is succinct yet approachable. Thank you.

[@michaelmattichiii1595]

I love this type of music, and my friend taught me the song meditation which I play. Thank you for sharing your gift.This music needs to be kept alive.

[@MrJosehermoza]

You have to be the greatest guitar player I've ever seen , and ,I used to live in Jerz de la fontera , you are awesome, and a very good teacher , cheers and thank you.

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

😳 wow thanks for your very nice comment!

[@steveperry1344]

i've always loved brazilian jazz since i first heard 'girl" in the early 60's. i'm gonna try and learn to play some. thnx for the lesson and beautiful music.

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

A great way to relax!

[@robertdyer8517]

I enjoyed that i knew nothing about bossa nova !!!

[@37BopCity]

Great video and thanks for the free PDF. After many years of playing different styles of guitar from blues to jazz to country, I finally discovered Bossa. I had heard many of the famous Bossa songs many times, but I didn't play them. Then I started to look into it seriously, and soon discovered how great Bossa is for guitar practice in every kind of way, no matter whether you play heavy metal, jazz, blues, country or rock etc. It's essential to use a looper, or record a rhythm track to play over. It's a great workout to play simple, clean, beautiful rhythm chords in perfect time for several repeats of the basic structures. Then it becomes another challenge to learn and play those beautiful, sophisticated melody lines over top (and try and remember them all!) Your timing has to be precise and your tone and intonation has to be really clean. It's excellent practice, musically educational, and personally satisfying. On top of these basic fundamentals for beginners/intermediate players, next step up are the challenges of advanced chord substitutions, improvisation, comping difficult rhythms at fast tempos, etc. There's no limits for even the greatest professional guitarists. Long live Bossa! (PS -- last but not least, singing the lyrics if you have a great voice or have a great vocalist to accompany).

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Well said!

[@frankvaleron]

Really well done video, concise and clear

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Thanks so much!

[@feedbackbro]

This is fantastic. Just discovered your channel. Instant follow!! The Bossa Nova style, the harmony and melody’s are so good. Thanks so much for posting this and your demonstration!! Love it.

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Great thanks for watching!!

[@melinarodriguez8395]

I used to imitate the bossa rythm a bit but was not really conscious of what was going on with the time. Thank you very much! I love your explanation and will watch it carefully!

[@gordonanderson4689]

Thanks for a most instructive and helpful video. Best regards from Lincolnshire UK

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@delta1ster]

Really great lesson especially the rhythm counting. Thanks a million. Rick

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Great, glad I could help!

[@andrewsworld-i3n]

Greetings from Brazil!

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Hello!

[@Trex100]

Awesome lesson. Thank you.

[@jorge3001able]

Scot, I have been into others guys showing Bossa on guitar and I must say your tutorial is great , simple and straight for one to have a good understanding of the various notes and rhythm, thanks a lot!

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Glad I could help!!!

[@JulienChauveau]

2:36 Gentle Rain 4:09 The Girl From Ipanema 5:18 Corcovado 6:22 Black Orpheus 7:34 Wave

[@krillinbaldhead9863]

Thank you

[@bto9063]

Awesome! Love your stuff!

[@brianmorris8045]

Such a relaxing style at pubs and restaurants.

[@jackdolphy8965]

Great teaching man. Kept it simple, totally clear. And dead accurate. Many Thanks!!!

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Thanks!

[@SuperExadidas]

Great demo....very useful....thank you.

[@MichaelJamesGallagherAuthor]

Very clear on the bossa move...thanks

[@alexmarkowski3859]

THANKS I have so many variations for these sheets yours are right at my level. Though I have started to combined lead and chords on some of these its nice to have this layout.

[@templeofleila]

I like your freeze screen at the end. What a good video! Thank you

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Thanks for watching!

[@trevormckinnon6696]

I think bossa nova is the best way to approach jazz generally on the guitar. It makes you aware of both the melody and chords of a given song. This is by virtue of its uncluttered rhythms allowing one the time to join those two things together. This is quite distinct from the boom-chick-boom-chick of polka or early jazz music. These feels sound fine in a piano or accordion setting but were never completely comfortable on guitar. Neither was the walking bass thing. People will disagree, but I found the walking bass a clutter of too many bass notes played in a poor quarter note rhythm. By contrast, the bossa nova is just right on guitar and enables clarity and richness of sound on the instrument. Finding the right chord progressions to songs from the mess often presented in Real Books is easier thanks to the bossa nova. Reading music on guitar generally is easier with the bossa nova approach. These are some of the many advantages I found with the bossa nova approach. Thanks for your video on this great music form.

[@daniben3720]

Soooo happy I found your channel this is exactly what I beeen waiting for thank you thank you

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Awesome welcome to my guitar brain!

[@efeistos54]

Que maravilla recibir el PDF de los Top 5 bossa, ahora a practicar con tan ilustrativa catedra del estilo bossa, muy didactico... gracias mil....

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Gracias por ver!

[@PetreLou]

Great video. Thanks a million!!

[@humbertobrum1]

Absolutely Awesome!!🎉

[@gomez-derek]

This video was awesome, thank you so much!

[@PiterCanthropus]

Maestro!!! Bravo!!!

[@Ribeirow21]

Awesome lesson Thanks

[@carlossuarez648]

Saludos desde Uruguay 🇺🇾

[@natalyest161]

Hi , Scot ! Super playing the classic guitar ! Great tutorial ! Interesting lesson ! First Bossa is my lovely music ! I'm very pleased to meet you ! Thanks for sharing !

[@bensalvador6809]

OMG. Wish I could play like you. You're the best dude

[@JamesW225]

Thanks so much scott. You are appreciated

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

🙏

[@PedroRibeiro-rl6be]

Som dos Carrilhoes as intro. Love it

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

That’s Black Orpheus, not Sons de Carrilhoes !

[@mehmetnaciakkk3983]

Fantastic (again) Scot! I am heading to the tabs. And to eveybody out there: I am a paying member of Scot’s “Versatile Guitarist”. Fantastic content. If you’re an aspiring guitar player, or if you just want access to a workd of tabs and sheet music and examples and video lessons, I recommend it very strongly. No, this is not a sponsored comment. Just an honest opinion 😊

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Thank you Mehmet, hopefully someone besides me will also read this! 😂

[@alexandredasilva7293]

Bonfá and Jobim, the granddaddies of Bossa Nova. Forgot talking bout João Gilberto though. Bossa’s father!

[@soundguyjimmy]

The curvature of the left thumb shows a lifetime practice!

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

That’s just my weird joints!

[@untunglaksito2389]

I can see his RIGHT thumb all the time. In what minute/second can you see his left?

[@andresimony1634]

Excellent vidéo! Thank You so much 👌👏👏👏

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Glad you liked it! 😎

[@Levi-tx9zi]

music to my ears and a smile to face! Awesome vid man! Appreciate this!

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Nice to hear that!

[@Levi-tx9zi]

@@TheVersatileGuitarist Do you happened to post a complete covers for the songs above? I would love to listened them! Thanks again!

[@Isaiahplaysguitar]

Awesome playing. Am definitely gunna learn some of these songs

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Go for it!

[@emersoncavalli6628]

Awesome, from Brazil congratulations.

[@dogmamusic]

Great musical choices and really spot on renditions of these wonderful compositions

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Thanks!

[@mohdkamalabusamah4383]

Tq for sharing your knowledge

[@qddk9545]

Brilliant 🙂

[@danielgomessilva8966]

Hey man thx for the video. Spot on with the Bass - you shouldn't swing with it. Bass at the 1 and the 3 to make the Surdo sound. It is SambaJazz and samba is a prayer after all. Repetition leads to Trance, so hold on to that Bass I am Portuguese and Bossa Nova has been my fuel to learn Violão (non-electric guitar). Such simple and sweet melodies with so intricate harmonies. God bless those souls. Lets not forget João Gilberto who came up with the rhythm or Batida -> "Beathem" Um abraço para você. Obrigado pelo vídeo e pelos acordes

[@samuel81804]

Regards from Brazil 😊😊

[@jasonminer1035]

Well done! Thank you

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Thank you too!

[@tiago58]

Very good tutorial about Brazilian guitar playing style! In Brasil it's a norm to play the Classical Guitar that we call "VIOLÃO" with nylon strings and finger style with nails. Many of the best Brazilian VIOLÃO players have classical training. And there is also some people that play the 7 strings VIOLÃO: Yamandu Costa, Alessandro Penezzi, Gian Correa, Marcos Kaiser and others. In other countries, with the exception of Spain, Russia and a few others, the guitar is played with a pick and steel strings, that produces other kind of sound, another style.

[@CatalogueVillalobos]

A few others??? No, no, no!!! Fingerstyle is the rule over all the Latín American countries!!! From Argentina to Cuba! Also have an enormous tradition in almost all european countries. How can You ignore that? Also Argentina, Uruguay, etc, gave top classical performers to the World. Dude, You can t ignore that...

[@tomjackson7022]

Great stuff Scot. I've been working through some classical pieces on my nylon string guitar but the bossas and all those cool jazzy chords really get me. Mind telling us what kind of guitar you're playing? I hope to upgrade to a cut away model some day but I don't see many pro-level cutaways in the shops.

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

I’m playing a flamenco negra cutaway from Pavan guitars in this video. It’s my main gigging guitar, sounds great and feels great!

[@Magicalfluidprocess]

Great vid , no fat on this script ❤

[@dalewilsonkc7yfe721]

Wow! If I lived close by to you, I would throw some bossa nova drum beats in with some of that. That would sound really cool. I’m a drummer myself.

[@australier263]

Great done mate! 🇦🇺

[@carloslukather6658]

So relax I feel like in Rio de janeiro. There is no city like that.

[@douglasscharnberg3883]

Very nice explanation 👌

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Thanks!

[@joaoluna6281]

AMAZING video and talk! Great selection of music. You must try some Joao Gilberto songs as he was for sure a Bossa Nova icon. Thank you!

[@Rhardebeck]

I would like to know what brand/model of guitar Scott is playing. Love the sound

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

That’s a Pavan negra cutaway flamenco guitar

[@NoahfromEarth]

Your chord transitions are inspiring haha

[@lehrgangswerk]

Tom was the inventor of Brazil music europeneans know. It was the music of a forgotten laid back and interlekktuell Brazil with this sweet undertone in it.

[@paulbidard4600]

Thank you for this beautifull video, whose Manha de carnaval arrangement did you play in your intro ?

[@user-uq8vn5nq6e]

nice. And in my opinion, Insensatez should be also a must-know bossa nova.

[@wiederecovsky]

It took the precision of an Anglo Saxon to teach, like no one else, the beautiful musical theory of bossa nova. Congratulations!

[@mirageguitar]

The link to the free tabs doesn’t work. Update: Scot sent a reply and so now I have the tabs! Thanks Scot, nice tunes!

[@alexmarkowski3859]

I do like the Fdim7 before the Fma7 in this arrangement of Corcovado bar 7 and 8. I have played it the other way for so long this is a sweet adjustment.

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Yes it has a deceptive resolution vibe to it

[@jules.634]

Damn. My 13 year old self just re-emerged. Thanks man. Especially for Manha.

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

I play that one almost every day!

[@jules.634]

@@TheVersatileGuitarist amazing. Ever watch the film? I think it's called Black Orpheus.

[@eduardocardenas2478]

Excelente thanks for sharing..

[@donaldsmith7685]

As an American my love of Bossa began with Barszil 66

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Classic!

[@aberhan]

I notice your thumb firmly planted throughout first song, as in a rest stroke. Are you playing rest strokes with the fingers, free strokes or both?

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

I play rest strokes with the thumb almost all the time for a bossa but never for the block chords, those should be a simultaneous free stroke with i-m-a

[@19648746]

Bien bonito estupendas y respetuosas versiones

[@LongNguyenDaLat]

Wonderful

[@amrsalahmahmoud3034]

Hello, this really amazing the sound of the guitar is beautiful , I want to buy one the same with brand is it & are you giving private lesson in internet ? I would love too learn with you , thanks for your time , I must have. A guitar similar & same strings model

[@petermafaj8144]

О thank you very much 😊 I try it

[@JagurSatria-mz9cr]

Bravo

[@Republicadeltwang]

😉😉😉 Thanks master!!!!

[@CoachlifeFormation]

Which guitar are you using ? It has a nice sound

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

This is a flamenco negra guitar from Pavan guitars

[@weinerschnitzelrock1]

Thanks. Terrific explanation. I played "Garota de Ipanema" before I knew I was gonna be a Peace Corps Vol in Salvador Bahia Brazil ! (Bahianos natural; Cariocas(Rio) more sophisticated !

[@moncorp1]

blame it on the bossa nova. The dance of love.

[@tomoliverminta]

Can I play these effectively on a metal string acoustic?

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Sure, but more often than not when you hear a bossa nova tune it’s a nylon string that they are using

[@meltdino1]

Love this!!!

[@shermansmith6946]

Do you have a bossa nova course?

[@chrisrichardson9777]

Wonderful! I don't think I will ever be able to play the Jobim pieces as much as I love them. My fingers at 72 are not up to it - alas.

[@kingstumble]

I'm with you on that. But here's a suggestion. I got a ukulele a few years ago which really lends itself to the bossa nova. OK it's very simplistic and not for the purist but you can still get the rhythms and chordal movement. By the way my fingers are older than yours!

[@TheVersatileGuitarist]

Are you trying to play the chords by themselves or chord melody arrangements?

[@chrisrichardson9777]

Just the chords, but I do have arthritis in my index finger. Can't be helped. C'est l'age.