Bossa Nova

The best known syle of Brazian music popularized in the 1950s and 1960s.

Published: 19 Sep 2018 Updated: 13 Apr 2020Visits: 572Code: UL901

Category: StylesInstrument: Music Subjects: Rhythm • Strums • Bossa • Clave • Styles

LESSONSeries : Bossa Nova

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Bossa Nova


Bossa Nova is a genre of Brazilian music, which developed and was popularized in the 1950s and 1960s and is today one of the best-known Brazilian music genres abroad. The phrase bossa nova means literally “new trend”. A lyrical fusion of samba and jazz, bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s initially among young musicians and college students. Since its inception, it has remained a vital part of the standard jazz repertoire.

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Bossa Nova has typically been performed on nylon stringed classical guitars plucking With the fingers as opposed to a pick. This is makes the ukulele a great instrument for performing Bossa Nova. In is purest form it is vocals and unaccompanied guitar. At its core the Bossa Nova rhythm is based on Samba. Samba’s emphasis on the second beat carries through the bossa nova pattern and at times is often notated in 2/4. A samba, unlike the bossa nova has a distant dance pattern associated with the style.

As with a samba a bossa nova is a clave pattern. In particular a 3:2 pattern.

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