Bossa Nova music is famous for its soft and warm-sounding chords. They are often four-part chords with an extension tone that gives the chords additional color. Popular are the ninth (9) and eleventh (11) for minor and major four-note chords, as well as the thirteenth (13) for diminished and dominant seventh chords. In order not to get too lost in theory, here are ten of the most popular, well-known and beautiful bossa nova chords.
The first chord of The Girl from Ipanema and many other pieces. The ninth adds extra warmth to the major triad with a major seventh!
Recommended Songs:
- Só Danço samba
- Summer Samba
- Wave
The little sister of the Major9 chord – a bit more mellow and at least as beautiful! The jazz bossa Blue Bossa makes extensive use of this chord.
Recommended Songs:
- Estate
- Wave
- É Preciso Perdoar
The minor 6th chord is the darker alternative to the minor 7th chord. It is almost always suitable as a tonic chord in minor pieces such as Corcovado.
Recommended Songs:
- How Insensitve
- Chega de Saudade
- Dindi
A complicated name for a simple chord: in this case a G7 chord with an E (the sixth note from G or, an octave up, the thirteenth note) in place of the D (the fifth). In combination with the minor 9th chord (see #2) this chord is often used in a typical chord progression for Latin tunes. The intro to the Jobim song Wave is a perfect example:
Recommended Songs:
- Só danço samba
- Once I Loved
- A Felicidade