Blue Bossa Tutorial Part 2
In this tutorial we will build upon what we learnt in Blue Bossa Part 1 and add all of these individual elements together to create a full Bossa Nova arrangement.
It’s difficult to maintain the 3 elements of Bossa Nova which are a steady bass line, syncopated rootless chord voicings, and finally the melody on top.
The bass line ties up your left hand in the lower register of the piano. You can’t use the sustain pedal as this will blur the rhythm from the bass line.
This leaves your right hand to play roles of melody and the rootless voicings. One way you can approach this is to hold down long notes with your 4^th^ finger or pinky finger and then fill in with the left hand voicings.
We also introduce topics we have explored in our study of jazz piano, such as passing chords and chromaticism.
Related Lessons
We examine the components of both the right and left hand and explore the interplay between the drums, the bass lines, and harmony.
When starting out playing Bossa Nova standards, it’s a good idea to separate and isolate the different elements that make up a Bossa Nova groove.
Practice Tips
- Practice each of the three elements of Bossa Nova—steady bass line, syncopated rootless chord voicings, and melody on top—individually before combining them.
- Don't feel compelled to play all of these elements concurrently throughout the performance.
- Instead, you can imply these various elements and allow for more space.
- Remember, you need not fill every space; both bass lines and comping rhythms are optional if desired.
