Corcovado Beginner Tutorial
In this lesson, we explore the classic Brazilian tune ‘Corcovado’ in a style suitable for both beginner jazz pianists and those new to the Brazilian style.
The A Section
It’s worth noting that this tune follows an A-B-A-C form meaning that the second A section is an exact repetition of the first A section. This helps with internalising and memorising the tune.
We explore various minor chord voicings and discuss how to find voicings which add extra colour, texture and character to our arranagment.
The B Section
We add interesting and sophisticated harmonies to the B section paying special attention to the implied inner voice movement. When we have a single chord type for more than 1 bar, a useful device to add interest is to add inner movement to the harmony. The first two bars of the B section this is a great example of how this can be applied.
The C Section
It’s important to note that the C section is 12 bars long. While not highly unusual, it deviates from the standard 8-bar length commonly found in most jazz standards and so it’s an important point to remember when playing this tune.
Related Lessons
In this lesson we will explore the tune “Corcovado” by Antonio Carlos Jobim and analyse the introduction which is often missed in performance.
One of the best ways to learn a piece of music is to first learn how to accompany it. This tutorial demonstrates using the tune “Corcovado”.
The first jazz standard lesson in this course is “Corcovado” written by the great Antonio Carlos Jobim and lyrics by Vinicius de Moraes.
Practice Tips
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Listen to different versions of this song and play along with the melody to develop your own way of interpreting the tune.
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Learn the tune by practicing each section separately (the A, B, & C sections) and then putting everything together.
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If reaching big intervals in the left hand is challenging, use the alternatives shown.
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Ensure that you are comfortable with these basic changes; start by playing only the voicings and then add the melody.
