Bossa Nova Chord Progressions
Bossa nova chord progressions blend Brazilian samba rhythms with jazz harmony, creating a sophisticated, intimate sound. The genre uses major 7th and 9th chords as tonic chords, chromatic passing chords between diatonic movements, and the ii–V–I as the central cadential pattern. Bossa nova is characterized by smooth voice leading, the bII substitution chord, and extended major 7th voicings throughout.
5 progressions — shown in C major
Transpose to your key →Imaj7–IVmaj7 (Two-bar float)
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The foundational bossa nova movement. Two major seventh chords moving by a perfect fourth — lush, suspended, harmonically stable. The absence of dominant tension means neither chord demands resolution. Bossa nova uses this as a repeating tonic loop, with the samba-influenced rhythm creating motion where harmony rests.
ii7–V7–Imaj7
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The jazz ii–V–I at the heart of bossa nova. Slower tempos and extended chord durations give this standard cadence its distinctive bossa character. Played with the alternating thumb-and-finger right-hand pattern over long chord durations, the ii–V–I becomes lyrical and intimate.
Imaj7–bIImaj7 (bII chord)
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In C major
A chromatic half-step resolution. The bIImaj7 (Dbmaj7) sits one semitone above the tonic and resolves down to Cmaj7 — the smoothest possible bass movement. This Neapolitan-related sound is central to bossa nova and appears in Jobim standards. Note: unlike the jazz tritone substitution (which uses Db7), bossa nova arrangements typically use the major 7th voicing here.
vi7–II7–ii7–V7 (Extended turnaround)
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An extended turnaround using a secondary dominant. The D7 (V/ii) prepares the Dm7, which then moves to G7 and resolves to I. This four-chord loop adds one chromatic step to the standard ii–V–I, creating the longer, more elaborate harmonic sentences characteristic of bossa nova standards.
IV–#IVdim7–V7 (Chromatic passing)
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A chromatic passing chord between IV and V. The #IVdim7 (F#dim7) creates a smooth half-step motion in the bass — a hallmark of bossa nova and samba chord arrangements. The fully diminished seventh chord resolves naturally to V7 by moving each voice by a half-step or whole-step.
How to Use Bossa Nova Chord Progressions
These progressions are shown in C as the reference key — the most idiomatic key for bossa nova chord progressions. Every progression uses Roman numeral notation, which is key-independent: the same relationships work in all 12 keys.
To use a progression in a different major key, apply the same degree pattern to your target key. The Chords in a Key tool shows all diatonic chords for any major key. For transposing a full chord sheet, use the chord transposer. The Nashville Number System encodes these progressions as numbers so they work in any key instantly.
Play These Progressions in Any Key
Each diatonic chord reference page shows you the exact chord names for every scale degree in that key — so you can apply any of these Roman numeral patterns directly. Click a key to see its full chord set:
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common bossa nova chord progressions?
The most common bossa nova progressions are ii7–V7–Imaj7, the Imaj7–IVmaj7 movement, and the chromatic bIImaj7 chord (Dbmaj7 resolving down a half-step to Cmaj7). "Girl from Ipanema" uses Fmaj7–G7 with chromatic motion. Extended major 7th and minor 7th chords are used throughout — plain triads are rare in bossa nova.
What makes bossa nova harmony sound distinctive?
Bossa nova uses major 7th chords as tonic chords instead of plain majors, chromatic passing chords between diatonic movements, and sophisticated voice leading. The bIImaj7 chord (Dbmaj7 resolving a half-step down to Cmaj7) is particularly distinctive. The Brazilian samba rhythmic pattern combined with jazz harmony creates the genre's unique sound.
How do I play bossa nova on guitar?
Learn jazz 7th chord voicings — specifically drop-2 shapes and partial barre chords that let the thumb reach the bass string. The right hand uses an alternating thumb-and-finger pattern derived from samba. Start with Imaj7–IVmaj7 in Fmaj7–Bbmaj7, then add the ii–V–I to create a complete cadence.
What key is bossa nova usually in?
Bossa nova is commonly played in F, Bb, and Eb — keys that suit the voice and guitar in dropped-thumb position. On guitar, A, D, and G with open voicings are accessible starting keys. Classical guitar notation often transposes bossa nova to suit available open-string voicings.
Related Chord Progressions
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