How to Play Bossa Nova (Afro-Brazilian Jazz Explained)

If you like this Jazz Piano Tutorial, please subscribe: / walkthatbass
For more information check out my website: www.thejazzpianosite.com/jazz...
Link to my video on Afro-Cuban Jazz: • Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz ...
In this Jazz Piano Tutorial is on Afro-Brazilian Jazz and specifically on how to play Bossa Nova.
The Bossa Nova was largely a Brazilian trend in the late 1950's. But it became hugely popular in the United States in the early 1960’s because Jazz musicians like Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, and Charlie Byrd began playing Jobim’s songs. The 1959 Cuban Revolution helped too, by making celebrating Cuban culture a bit taboo in the US.
Stylistically, Bossa Nova is sparse, unemotional, and gentle. It 'sways' rather than 'swings'. It was restrained in the sense that it used little vibrato or dynamic variation - in Jazz lingo, it was 'cool' rather than 'hot'. But the melodies and lyrics could still be quite emotional, melancholy, and touching. It is played with a straight rhythm but is highly syncopated (which gives it that swaying feeling).
A Bossa Nova can be divided into three parts, with each one having a particular rhythm: Bass Ostinato Pattern, Chordal Comping Pattern, and Melody. We learn to play and combine of these in this lesson.
If you enjoyed this lesson on how to play Bossa Nova, please subscribe.

Пікірлер: 428

  • @andyokus4930
    @andyokus49306 жыл бұрын

    I was playing piano on a cruise ship doing a medley of Jobim tunes. 3 young girls came to me and began singing all my tunes in Portuguese. Their phrasing blew me away! They knew every word. I learned more that night about Brazilian music than I had my entire life!

  • @Geo-wc7jc

    @Geo-wc7jc

    4 жыл бұрын

    They are Brazillian after all

  • @DHFreaki

    @DHFreaki

    4 жыл бұрын

    May I ask how you got that job? Are you a trained musician with a degree?

  • @MadeInJack

    @MadeInJack

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@DHFreaki just putting a comment here to get notified in case he replies :)

  • @novaria

    @novaria

    4 жыл бұрын

    What songs did you play?

  • @marcoevans2155

    @marcoevans2155

    3 жыл бұрын

    What happened with the girls afterwards

  • @fernandogiongo
    @fernandogiongo6 жыл бұрын

    I'm a Brazilian musician and I think you did a great job at creating an intro to bossa. But people have to remember that, like you said, there is a lot of variation in bossa, otherwise it sounds stiff. The short notes on the bassline for instance are not a rule, the bass can also (and more commonly does) just play long notes on the beat.

  • @ericwinter4513

    @ericwinter4513

    6 жыл бұрын

    Fernando Giongo Agreed. If you listen to the original recording of Ipanema, the bass is literally just playing half-notes. Somehow what has become the standard for a lot of jazz players is the bass line from Song for my father and Steely Dan rather than how Brazilians actually play.

  • @deldia

    @deldia

    6 жыл бұрын

    Oh god, there's always one Brazilian trying to stir up trouble just because they don't like someone else playing some music from Brazil. Polite request: fuck off.

  • @ericwinter4513

    @ericwinter4513

    6 жыл бұрын

    wikichris I'm not Brazilian. I just know what it's supposed to sound like

  • @fernandogiongo

    @fernandogiongo

    6 жыл бұрын

    wikichris Stir up trouble? Whats the matter with you? I think I was polite, besides, I said I like his bossa nova lesson. I am literally an expert, a professional music teacher in Brazil. If I'm not allowed to make constructive, polite criticism about the music I spent 30 years listening to and playing, than who can? Looks like you are the one stirring up trouble here.

  • @deldia

    @deldia

    6 жыл бұрын

    You're condescending. There is no but. It's a good lesson. There's always one of you everywhere.

  • @Carlosconga
    @Carlosconga6 жыл бұрын

    The rhythm at 10:50 is a Brazilian rhythm that has a name- partido alto. It’s like a clave but it is also its own style of music.

  • @josedarioleandro1538
    @josedarioleandro15386 жыл бұрын

    Excellent explanation! The only thing I'd like to add is: due being derived from Samba, most of Bossa-Nova songs are often in 2/4 bar, instead of 4/4.

  • @ianmoore5502
    @ianmoore55026 жыл бұрын

    The single most instructional video on KZread. Best tutorial in jusic I've ever seen. Literally one watch and I'm playing bossa Nova and counting rhythms I used to struggle with. I don't know how you made this so clear but don't stop making tutorials. I love your work. Thank you so much.

  • @WalkThatBass

    @WalkThatBass

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, Ian. You're too kind.

  • @peoriaos6627

    @peoriaos6627

    4 жыл бұрын

    Another great one!

  • @amatta_
    @amatta_6 жыл бұрын

    Thank you always for your guides. Bossa Nova is one of my favorites! It really shows how music makes people feel good, I think!

  • @WalkThatBass

    @WalkThatBass

    6 жыл бұрын

    Agreed! Thanks for the comment.

  • @pky107
    @pky1074 жыл бұрын

    Just a suggestion: play the finished piece at the start.

  • @imojado7294

    @imojado7294

    3 жыл бұрын

    No because then there's no point of watching the video mr instant satiation

  • @isaacvance5090

    @isaacvance5090

    3 жыл бұрын

    Cherry Salinger it’s so we don’t waste our time watching a video if it isn’t what we’re looking for

  • @imojado7294

    @imojado7294

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@isaacvance5090 Not a good response

  • @DanThePianoManNZ

    @DanThePianoManNZ

    3 жыл бұрын

    A snippet of the piece at the beginning would be a good idea to catch the attention, probably not the whole thing.

  • @imojado7294

    @imojado7294

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@DanThePianoManNZ No

  • @kip4966
    @kip49665 жыл бұрын

    The history lesson alone makes this worth the watch, really well done sir!

  • @maakkaas
    @maakkaas2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for such a thorough video! I'm an electronic music producer who was asked by a client to write something "bossa nova-y" and was a bit stuck since jazz is not something I usually compose, this was super helpful!

  • @flikkrstudios
    @flikkrstudios4 жыл бұрын

    Finally, I can wake wii music

  • @daneuro

    @daneuro

    3 жыл бұрын

    😂😂😂

  • @jamesmcmahan1236
    @jamesmcmahan12366 жыл бұрын

    Great to have videos like this giving an introduction to different styles. When I hear an artist who borrows from a style like this, or is inspired by it, I often think, "I'd love to understand this more." But getting into things can be duanting and it's nice to have a easy starting point

  • @matheusdoriadearaujo3318
    @matheusdoriadearaujo3318 Жыл бұрын

    As a Brazilian who has a congenital natural rhythmic sense for samba, I have to say that the basis of the Afro-Cuban rhythm is the clave while the basis of the bossa nova rhythm or any other samba rhythm is the tambourine.

  • @AS-zg7fw
    @AS-zg7fw6 жыл бұрын

    I've noodled around on piano learning chords and scales and playing my own versions of tunes but this will be great for the next step to playing it true to form. Thanks dude, really helpful and completely and uttetly explanatory. No gaps in information at all.

  • @SwiftDreamer
    @SwiftDreamer6 жыл бұрын

    Wow this is a dope tutorial. Was just looking at bossa nova songs randomly too. Also, I'm not that strong in music theory so I feel like I leveled up in some concepts

  • @WalkThatBass

    @WalkThatBass

    6 жыл бұрын

    Happy to be of service :)

  • @cornelmasson4610
    @cornelmasson46105 жыл бұрын

    Bossa, like the Blues, has something primally appealing about it.

  • @zeldaworld7
    @zeldaworld74 жыл бұрын

    7:42 mins in and I went straight into belting “Rikki don’t lose that number!” Lol great song

  • @mattfreise6644

    @mattfreise6644

    4 жыл бұрын

    SlippiGoldberg7 yup!

  • @quentinkain4367

    @quentinkain4367

    3 жыл бұрын

    same

  • @fluff5800

    @fluff5800

    3 жыл бұрын

    Same

  • @bonnieheat_on
    @bonnieheat_on6 жыл бұрын

    This is such a quality video! Thank you for sharing it - I've learnt so much :)

  • @eascya
    @eascya3 жыл бұрын

    This was amazing. I've been playing this song for years - but this helped me take it to a whole new level!!

  • @elBiter
    @elBiter5 жыл бұрын

    This video is pure gold. Thank you for sharing this knowledge.

  • @craigsmurf6640
    @craigsmurf66404 жыл бұрын

    Glad I stumbbled into this, I've been playing (started as a drummer) for 38 yrs? never broke down the bossa nova, always thought about as a switch you through on a apartment organ. this is a little more succinct. thanks friend

  • @gruforevs
    @gruforevs5 жыл бұрын

    I love all your videos, one of my favourite music educators on youtube. Thanks for all your hard work

  • @opop3553
    @opop35534 жыл бұрын

    Me: 2020 recommendations: bro you should def make your New Year resolution to learn how to rip some Bossa Nova on a piano

  • @abelshete521

    @abelshete521

    3 жыл бұрын

    How’d you like the new year

  • @charliewalton3942

    @charliewalton3942

    3 жыл бұрын

    Guessing you didn't learn it so now the universe is punishing us all....

  • @ttwa5328
    @ttwa53285 жыл бұрын

    Excellent presentation, I now understand the rthym and composition much better--not that I'll be able to play effectively but u never know. THANKS Job Welldone.

  • @ChristerOstergaard
    @ChristerOstergaard2 жыл бұрын

    00:00 Introduction & Latin jazz disambiguation 00:31 Bossa Nova history 02:06 The style 02:36 The rhythm 04:01 The “Bossa Nova clave” 06:24 Bass ostinato 09:10 Chordal comping 11:48 Melody I love bossa, I make bossa... have a listen to Boba Nova: kzread.info/dash/bejne/eKKX29eAgaedpKg.html

  • @snipperbesfelixje
    @snipperbesfelixje6 жыл бұрын

    THANK YOU! Your videos are a gold mine as always. You deserve more subs...

  • @WalkThatBass

    @WalkThatBass

    6 жыл бұрын

    My pleasure, mate :)

  • @kinder5775
    @kinder57754 жыл бұрын

    wow this is my first time watching your channel and i love the content! definitely subscribing

  • @wangzhendan
    @wangzhendan5 жыл бұрын

    Literally the best explanation so far i read online . Mucho gracias

  • @patriciajrs46
    @patriciajrs462 жыл бұрын

    You are the second person I have ever seen that can play left hand sections all by themselves. Usually they put both hands up to the keys, even if the right hand isn't playing. Very well done.

  • @RodM.Peters
    @RodM.Peters4 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant deconstruction, and you then topped it off with a soulful jazzy execution. Top notch.

  • @Beowulf_93

    @Beowulf_93

    2 жыл бұрын

    This is bossa pur man

  • @christophemarois5423
    @christophemarois54236 жыл бұрын

    I have no words for how good your teaching is.

  • @WalkThatBass

    @WalkThatBass

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, mate :)

  • @raf97434
    @raf974342 жыл бұрын

    One of the best teacher on KZread, thanks for these incredible well explained lessons

  • @ItamarHaggaiMusic
    @ItamarHaggaiMusic5 жыл бұрын

    This is really helpful and easy to follow! Thanks man, I really appreciate it

  • @Louis-sm5ws
    @Louis-sm5ws6 жыл бұрын

    This tutorial is really great, i don't usually do that but like and share!

  • @nayarlopez8655
    @nayarlopez86552 жыл бұрын

    Awesome lesson! Thanks for the lesson: not only are there few lessons on bossa nova piano available, but this one is great!

  • @rachelsmename
    @rachelsmename6 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for making that video. It was fun!

  • @masonnair
    @masonnair5 жыл бұрын

    You are the best teacher currently on KZread!!!!!

  • @lastorianostra8173
    @lastorianostra81732 жыл бұрын

    Great explanation and amazing skills UNFORTUNATELY not for my beginner level... maybe next year, who knows... but thanks, Andrea from Roma - Italia.

  • @fer18433
    @fer184336 жыл бұрын

    Gracias, su canal es de los mejores q he visto, Dios lo bendiga.

  • @Carolo3972
    @Carolo39726 жыл бұрын

    The best tutorial explaining bossa nova rythm. Both teory and practice, applied to the "Bossa Standard· Garota de ipanema. Congratulations man. I can't express how grateful I am for your generosity. Best regards maestyro

  • @Rajivrocks-Ltd.
    @Rajivrocks-Ltd.2 жыл бұрын

    Wow, thanks so very much for this amazingly informative video. I absolutely love Latin music and learning to play it is a big goal for me and this really helps me out a lot! :)

  • @pfylim
    @pfylim4 жыл бұрын

    What I love about this channel is that you are teaching without any other commercial interest at all.

  • @thumblelina1916
    @thumblelina1916 Жыл бұрын

    Great instructional video, ❤love it, very useful with great explanation, your Jazz Piano 🎹🎹Tutorials covers everything to play from Blues to Jazz. I will make sure to follow for latest content. 👍

  • @centient1327
    @centient1327 Жыл бұрын

    Amazing video, will definitely come back to check out your other lessons!

  • @breadman7733
    @breadman77334 жыл бұрын

    This channel is amazing. Awesome work mate

  • @akalmi6479
    @akalmi64794 жыл бұрын

    Very good tutorial 🙏 ! It's really helpful !

  • @fadyboles2100
    @fadyboles21006 жыл бұрын

    Great video! However could you possibly in the future make a detailed video about montunos and how to practice them? Cheers!

  • @Agaveo_Productions
    @Agaveo_Productions3 жыл бұрын

    4:20 and 10:36 very useful to me to learn these ! Thank you very much!

  • @komami1006
    @komami10069 ай бұрын

    I love bossa nova and I always wated to learn more about it. Thank you for sharing great lecture!!

  • @ilyaprofit
    @ilyaprofit6 жыл бұрын

    I waited for this since afro-cuban video!

  • @jeremybasualdo4483
    @jeremybasualdo44833 жыл бұрын

    Very helpful, and a great introduction to Bossa Nova.

  • @Sweetmellow11
    @Sweetmellow114 жыл бұрын

    Loveeeee this lesson. I been watching many lesson this lesson is my fav😸😸🙌

  • @sebastiantorrisi5100
    @sebastiantorrisi51004 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this video, very useful, I didn't know this, but now I do! 😊😇

  • @wan_kkkkkk
    @wan_kkkkkk2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you,i was trying to ''create" a bossa nova song And i'd failed,what surprise But i think now i learn a bit more I'll try again :)

  • @vocalele
    @vocalele5 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! It really helps!!! And you are very good. 😊

  • @pallagsamuel2441
    @pallagsamuel24416 жыл бұрын

    These latin musics are awesome 😊thank you soo much for explaining the structure, and still you are a good teacher! Is this your job?

  • @WalkThatBass

    @WalkThatBass

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thanks :) No, I just do this as a hobby.

  • @MarkPrigoff
    @MarkPrigoff4 жыл бұрын

    With all due respect, the song that started it all is Jobim’s Chega de saudade, or, No More Blues. And the bossa jazz standard is Blue Bossa. On top of that, a song like How Insensatez is really based on F. Chopin. Bossa Nova can be easily expressed in rhythm with just a shaker!

  • @rexchidgey7911
    @rexchidgey79116 жыл бұрын

    Mate, great tutorial. Concise and easy to absorb.

  • @virginiamacario9097
    @virginiamacario90975 жыл бұрын

    Muy buen tutorial!! Muchas gracias!

  • @petereichorn7079
    @petereichorn70792 жыл бұрын

    Hi Mr. "WALK THAT BASS" Thanks a lot for this tutorial BOSSA NOVA so beautifully and understandable explained. Difficult to add more, which words could express. Thanks again for your Inspiration, Now pracictice time. Wish you the Best. GREETINGS from SPAIN.

  • @jcomm120
    @jcomm1204 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for these clear explanations♡♡♡

  • @AndreyBassNotes
    @AndreyBassNotes5 жыл бұрын

    Quality information in this video!

  • @mimisaiko
    @mimisaiko6 жыл бұрын

    so chill nice video as always love you

  • @l.ijoseangelpucciau5701
    @l.ijoseangelpucciau57014 жыл бұрын

    Good explanation mister.. hello to you since Yucatán, I am a jazz lover and musician too that wants to learn how to play it and this video riches myself to do it.. thank you.. I Will práctice it.. here we traditionally listen to cumbia music and a mexican cumbia group plays some Jazz in some parts of it.. thats why I learn it, to use it into mine.. hello to you God bless you and thanks so much

  • @user-bi5fl4td5c
    @user-bi5fl4td5c2 жыл бұрын

    The best teacher. I LOVE YOU

  • @PRODBYGL3
    @PRODBYGL34 жыл бұрын

    11:06 potsu- just friends

  • @ev_alex_

    @ev_alex_

    4 жыл бұрын

    no its not

  • @NolifeToby

    @NolifeToby

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@ev_alex_ yes

  • @ev_alex_

    @ev_alex_

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@NolifeToby no

  • @imnotasher4892

    @imnotasher4892

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@ev_alex_ he sampled it

  • @gavin1078

    @gavin1078

    4 жыл бұрын

    Lol

  • @TheWimpyWhiteBoy
    @TheWimpyWhiteBoy5 жыл бұрын

    love this tutorial

  • @aliciahan
    @aliciahan Жыл бұрын

    Very Clear Explaination. Thanks!

  • @Andreas-J-Wieland
    @Andreas-J-Wieland5 ай бұрын

    Especially the film "Orfeu Negro" by Marcel Camus , award winner at Cannes in 1968, started the worldwide Bossa-craze.

  • @FernieCanto
    @FernieCanto4 жыл бұрын

    I realise that this is just a quick 'n' dirty tutorial for getting the basics of the bossa nova rhythm, but still, there are lots of fundamental aspects of samba and bossa nova that get lost when we stick to the surface level. One example is that, even though you stress the importance of syncopation in bossa, it's not just any syncopation. In almost every samba you hear, you'll hear a stress that's put in the "One uh and *A* , Two uh and *A* | One uh and *A* , Two uh and *A* ". There's no such thing as samba (and, by extension, bossa nova) without that 16th note stress. You can hear that, for example, in the melody of the classic Canto de Ossanha. Also, in order to truly grasp the way those rhythmic patterns work, you'd have to understand the way they're playing the role of traditional percussion instruments, which, though they don't follow a clave, are tightly tied together in complex rhythmic tapestries; but not just that, but some notes are slightly delayed while others are slightly rushed in relation to the "grid", in very subtle ways, but that almost any ordinary Brazilian person is able to play on a matchbox. The brilliancy of musicians like João Gilberto resides (among other things) in how he can deconstruct those rhythmic patterns into their most basic elements and reproduce them on the guitar, and execute sophisticated tricks that your mind might not even notice; sometimes, in the middle of a song, he would *only* play guitar chords on the "A" 16th notes, but you're fooled into thinking he's playing the other notes as well, because you're still hearing them in your head. Crazy, absolutely crazy. All of this might be too complicated and deep for someone who's just getting initiated, but, really, it's the absence of details like those that'll make your music sound like "samba de gringo", i.e. foreigner's samba. You have to study partido alto, samba de roda, and other related styles, in order to get that sound right... and listen to some really great music while you're at it. :)

  • @davisworth5114

    @davisworth5114

    3 жыл бұрын

    The melody of Bossa tunes are so beautiful, I like to play them with a swing beat, and people love it and want to dance, there are a lot of ways to put across good music, and it doesn't always require that it be played with idiomatic correctness.

  • @paxwallacejazz
    @paxwallacejazz6 жыл бұрын

    I perform 4 Jobim bossas and 2 of my own on a regular basis. So there's no problem when playing in a trio or even just a bassist. However playing solo piano is problematic. Inserting bass notes into the overall matrix is problematic as I find I must momentarily interupt the flow in the left hand to stride in a bass function. I want my rt hand completly free to solo. So halfway through still waiting for solutions I don't already know.

  • @SteelerY360Nation
    @SteelerY360Nation6 жыл бұрын

    Well explained!

  • @UnicornLaunching
    @UnicornLaunching5 жыл бұрын

    7:35 Horace Silver - Song For My Father

  • @darrenseder5923

    @darrenseder5923

    4 жыл бұрын

    I heard that too.

  • @erhanmusician
    @erhanmusician5 жыл бұрын

    Excellent lesson. thank you.

  • @hanoitripper1809
    @hanoitripper18094 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for your great vid!

  • @GerryMoningkey
    @GerryMoningkey4 жыл бұрын

    Really useful.. thanks! 😀

  • @alberto798
    @alberto7986 жыл бұрын

    Can you make a video talking about some tips for playing jazz solo piano? Some tips to get a fuller sound and dont sound boring

  • @composer7325
    @composer73256 жыл бұрын

    Excellent,thank you.

  • @danielbarry5547
    @danielbarry55476 жыл бұрын

    My fav Latin tune to play on guitar is "Canto de Ossanha"....great content btw!

  • @omartodologo6227
    @omartodologo62274 жыл бұрын

    What a great vieeo! . I love your explanation. !

  • @mythic414
    @mythic4146 жыл бұрын

    brilliant explanation!

  • @james69136
    @james691364 жыл бұрын

    Very clearly explained , Thanks

  • @Prilly49
    @Prilly493 жыл бұрын

    Great lesson. Thanks so much!

  • @Papzino
    @Papzino4 жыл бұрын

    Exactly what I was looking for

  • @53gitaar
    @53gitaar2 жыл бұрын

    Nice lesson !

  • @4c00h
    @4c00h6 жыл бұрын

    Taught like a proper Aussie! (Whatever that means). Thanks mate.

  • @philippeneron
    @philippeneron2 жыл бұрын

    wow....well explained and played !

  • @terpentoon
    @terpentoon2 жыл бұрын

    Now that is a perfect lesson. This is a true documentation and a surgical excersize. (Praise the Lord !)

  • @rebanelson607
    @rebanelson607 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for an excellent lesson!!

  • @jonathanlichtle3418
    @jonathanlichtle34184 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic, thanks very much !

  • @davidkelly831
    @davidkelly8312 жыл бұрын

    Great tutorial 👍

  • @rino.soundtracks
    @rino.soundtracks4 жыл бұрын

    great tutorial thank you

  • @drumwarlock
    @drumwarlock2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this lesson.

  • @jamesmcmahan1236
    @jamesmcmahan12366 жыл бұрын

    Kept making me think of "Ricky, don't lose that number." By Steely Dan, as well as "Budhistava".

  • @AIVariedades

    @AIVariedades

    4 жыл бұрын

    Bodhisattva*

  • @oscarantonmusic
    @oscarantonmusic4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks a lot ! Great video

  • @cacauceluque
    @cacauceluque3 жыл бұрын

    Congratulations! You are teaching a Brazilian musician to play bossa nova! Lol. Do you have a video about those special bossa voicings? Thank you very much

  • @NelsonRodriguesBroker
    @NelsonRodriguesBroker4 жыл бұрын

    Great explanation!

  • @gavrinmahaffey3656
    @gavrinmahaffey36563 жыл бұрын

    Excellent!!

  • @youkokun
    @youkokun6 жыл бұрын

    OMG WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?! ...it's probably wrong of me to feel so strongly about bossa nova haha

  • @lee-tanlu6065
    @lee-tanlu60654 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful

  • @aronjoosten5571
    @aronjoosten55714 жыл бұрын

    I’m personally not a fan of it, but I liked it that you told some information in the beginning of the video