Bossa nova guitar pattern
Bossa nova is played with the fingers: the thumb keeps a steady bass while the fingers pluck syncopated chords.
Live: C, Am, Dm, G7 in the Bossa nova style. Slow it to 0.5× to follow the hand.
How to count it
BC·CB·C·C
Thumb on 1 and 3 (alternating bass), fingers on the syncopated offbeats around them.
Meter 4/4, typical tempo around 118 BPM
Tips
- Play softly and keep the thumb absolutely steady.
- Use 7th chords: they are the colour of bossa.
- Start slower than you think; the pattern feels natural around 100–120 BPM.
Use this pattern on your own song
Paste or snap any chord sheet, pick “Bossa nova” as the style, and the hands play your song with it.
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