Bossa nova is one of Brazil's greatest contributions to world music. Born in late-1950s Rio de Janeiro, the genre blends sophisticated jazz harmonies with the rhythmic smoothness of samba. If you want to play bossa nova on guitar, this guide covers everything: essential chord types, classic progressions, the famous "batida" (strumming pattern), and the songs that defined the style.

Toca Aquela has hundreds of bossa nova chord charts — all free and ad-free, with key transposition and chord diagrams.

The Bossa Nova Strumming Pattern

Before the chords, you need to master the rhythm. The bossa nova pattern was popularized by João Gilberto and is the heartbeat of the genre.

How it works:

• The thumb alternates between bass notes (usually the 6th and 4th strings, or 5th and 4th, depending on the chord)
• The index, middle, and ring fingers pluck the treble strings in a syncopated pattern
• The base rhythm is in 2/4 time, but the syncopation creates that "swaying" feel that defines bossa nova

Basic pattern (simplified notation):

Thumb:    X . . X . . X .
Fingers:  . X . . X X . X

The thumb keeps steady time while the fingers create the syncopation. Start slowly — precision matters more than speed. João Gilberto spent months perfecting this pattern.

Tip: Practice with a single chord first (Am7 works great) until the pattern becomes automatic. Then add chord changes.

Essential Bossa Nova Chords

Bossa nova uses richer chords than traditional samba. Forget plain major and minor chords — here, everything has extensions.

Maj7 (Major Seventh)

The most characteristic bossa nova chord. Replace virtually any major chord with its major seventh version.

• Cmaj7: x-3-2-0-0-0
• Fmaj7: x-x-3-2-1-0
• Gmaj7: 3-2-0-0-0-2

m7 (Minor Seventh)

Essential for minor chords in bossa. Smoother and jazzier than a plain minor.

• Am7: x-0-2-0-1-0
• Dm7: x-x-0-2-1-1
• Em7: 0-2-2-0-3-0

7 (Dominant Seventh)

The tension chord that "pulls" toward resolution. Fundamental in ii-V-I progressions.

• G7: 3-2-0-0-0-1
• A7: x-0-2-0-2-0
• D7: x-x-0-2-1-2

dim (Diminished)

Used as a chromatic passing chord. Adds that touch of sophistication.

• C#dim: x-4-5-3-5-x
• Bdim: x-2-3-1-3-x

9 (Ninth)

For when a seventh is not enough. Ninth chords add even more harmonic color.

• G9: 3-2-0-0-0-3 (simplified)
• C9: x-3-2-3-3-x

6 and 6/9 (Sixth and Sixth-Ninth)

Favorite resolution chords in bossa nova — smoother than maj7.

• C6/9: x-3-2-2-3-0
• D6/9: x-x-0-2-0-2

Classic Progressions

The ii-V-I Progression

The backbone of bossa nova (and jazz). In C major:

Dm7 → G7 → Cmaj7

This progression appears in virtually every bossa song. Master it and you can already play 70% of the repertoire. Common variations:

• Dm9 → G13 → Cmaj9 (more colorful)
• Dm7 → G7(b13) → Cmaj7 (with chromatic tension)

The I-vi-ii-V Progression

The full cycle. In C major:

Cmaj7 → Am7 → Dm7 → G7

This four-chord sequence is the foundation of countless standards. It creates a circular harmonic motion that can repeat indefinitely.

Turnaround with Diminished

Cmaj7 → C#dim → Dm7 → G7

The diminished chord (C#dim) works as a chromatic passing tone between the I and ii chords. This movement is a bossa nova signature.

Songs to Study

Girl from Ipanema — Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes

The most famous bossa nova song in the world. The verse progression is a classic ii-V-I in F major:

Fmaj7 → G7 → Gm7 → Gb7(#11)

The bridge modulates up a half step (Gbmaj7), creating that magical moment of "harmonic surprise." It is a perfect study in how Tom Jobim used subtle modulations.

View Girl from Ipanema chord chart →

Desafinado — Tom Jobim and Newton Mendonça

The bossa nova "manifesto." The harmony is intentionally complex — Tom Jobim used altered chords and unexpected modulations to illustrate the theme of singing "off-key." It includes:

• ii-V-I progressions in different keys
• Altered chords (7#5, 7b9)
• Half-step modulations

View Desafinado chord chart →

Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars) — Tom Jobim

One of the most accessible songs for bossa nova beginners. The main progression uses relatively simple chords:

D9 → Am7(b5) → D7(b9) → Gm7

Despite the intimidating notation, the fretboard positions are comfortable. A great song for practicing the strumming pattern with jazzy chords.

View Corcovado chord chart →

Águas de Março (Waters of March) — Tom Jobim

A minimalist masterpiece. Unlike the others, Águas de Março uses few chords but with impressive rhythmic sophistication. Most of it revolves around:

Emaj7 → Ebmaj7 → E → E6

The challenge here is not the harmony but the vocal rhythm against the guitar. It is an excellent exercise in independence between singing and playing.

View Águas de Março chord chart →

Tips for Playing Bossa Nova

1. Less is more. Bossa nova is about subtlety. Play softly — if your neighbors can hear you clearly, you are too loud.

2. Keep the thumb steady. The alternating bass thumb is the bossa metronome. If the thumb falters, everything falls apart.

3. Learn mid-neck positions. Many bossa chords use positions in the middle of the fretboard (frets 3-7). Invest time learning these shapes.

4. Use the transposer. Some songs are tough in the original key. Use the Toca Aquela transposer to adjust to your range or simplify chord positions.

5. Listen to João Gilberto. There is no better reference. The album "Chega de Saudade" (1959) is a complete masterclass in rhythm and interpretation. Check out João Gilberto's chord charts on Toca Aquela.

6. Study the connection to samba. Bossa nova was born from samba. If you want to understand where the rhythm comes from, study traditional samba first. Caetano Veloso is a great starting point for those crossing between both worlds.

7. Learn basic chords first. If you are just starting out, make sure you have mastered basic guitar chords before diving into bossa nova extensions.

Explore the Full Repertoire

Toca Aquela has chord charts for all the great bossa nova artists — Tom Jobim, João Gilberto, Vinícius de Moraes, Baden Powell, and many more. All free, no ads, with key transposition and chord diagrams.

Explore all chord charts →