Blue Bossa

Blue Bossa is a popular bossa nova standard written by Kenny Dorham and made famous by Joe Henderson on his album Page One (1963). It was written after Dorham visited the Rio de Janeiro Jazz Festival in 1961.

Joe Henderson Page One - Blue Bossa

Blue Bossa is a good song for beginners to improvise over chord changes because it is usually played at a medium tempo and has an easy-to-follow harmony (including a modulation). Blue Bossa is often played at jams, so it’s a good idea to add it to your repertoire.

Besides The Girl From Ipanema, Blue Bossa must be the most popular bossa nova song ever.

 

Recommended listening:

  • Joe Henderson – Page One (1963)
  • Dexter Gordon – Biting the Apple (1976)
  • Joe Pass & J.J. Johnson – We’ll Be Together Again (1988)
  • Pat Martino – Comin’ and Goin’ (1999)
  • Jimmy Rosenberg – Trio (2004)

 

 

 

Blue Bossa Video 1 – Single-Note Melody and Solo

Blue Bossa - Melody and Jazz Guitar Improvisation (Tabs)

Blue Bossa Guitar Pro File (Melody & Solo)Download Guitar Pro 7 File

Blue Bossa Band in a Box File (Chord Melody & Solo)Download Band in a Box File

 

Blue Bossa – Melody

Backing Track (195 bpm)

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Listen & Play-Along

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Blue Bossa Melody (Lead Sheet)

 

Blue Bossa – Chord Analysis

Before we go on to the solo, let’s first have a look at the harmonic structure and the guitar scales you can use over Blue Bossa.

Structure: 16 bars long

Key: C minor

 

Blue Bossa chord analysis

 

 

C Natural Minor Scale (Measures 1-8 and 13-16)

On the blue parts, you use the C natural minor scale, aka the C Aeolian mode.

 

C natural minor scale diagram

 

As an alternative, you can use the C minor pentatonic scale or the C minor blues scale.

 

C minor pentatonic scale

 

C minor blues scale

 

On the Cm7 chord, you can also play the C Dorian mode.

 

C Dorian mode diagram

 

F Harmonic Minor Scale (Measure 2)

As an optional variation, you can make bar 2 into a C dominant 7th chord, by playing the F harmonic minor scale.

C7 (in Blue Bossa) is a secondary dominant chord (V/iv) that resolves to Fm7.

A secondary dominant is a dominant chord  that resolves to any chord that is not the tonic (I).

 

The scale of choice to play over C7 is the F harmonic minor scale, also known as the C Phrygian dominant scale or the C Mixolydian b9 b13 scale.

 

F harmonic minor scale F G Ab Bb C Db E
Played over C7 11 5 b13 b7 1 b9 3

F harmonic minor scale

 

C Harmonic Minor Scale (Measures 6, 14, and 16)

The scale of choice over the dominant chord (G7) is the C harmonic minor scale (= G Phrygian dominant).

 

C harmonic minor scale diagram

 

As an alternative, you can play the G altered scale over the G7.

 

G altered scale diagram

 

Db Major Scale (Measures 9-12)

Here the chord progression modulates to Db major.

This is a regular II V I progression, and you can play the Db major scale (=Db Ionian mode) over it.

 

Db major scale diagram

 

Blue Bossa – Solo Study 1

Backing Track (195 bpm)

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Listen & Play-Along

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Blue Bossa guitar solo page 1 (tabs/notation)

Blue Bossa guitar solo page 2 (tabs/notation)

Blue Bossa guitar solo page 3 (tabs/notation)

Blue Bossa guitar solo page 4 (tabs/notation)

Blue Bossa guitar solo page 5 (tabs/notation)

Blue Bossa guitar solo page 6 (tabs/notation)

Blue Bossa guitar solo page 7 (tabs/notation)

 

Blue Bossa Video 2 – Chord Melody and Easy Solo

Blue Bossa - Chord Melody Theme and Easy Guitar Solo

 

Blue Bossa Guitar Pro File (Chord Melody & Solo)Download Guitar Pro 7 File

Blue Bossa Band in a Box File (Chord Melody & Solo)Download Band in a Box File

 

Blue Bossa – Intro & Chord Melody Theme

In this version of Blue Bossa, I arranged the melody the way you would play it in a jazz trio by adding chords to the melody.

When you play in a combo without a piano or another guitar player, it’s a good idea to harmonize your melodies.

 

Backing Track (155 bpm)

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Listen & Play-Along

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Blue Bossa chord melody guitar tabs page 1

Blue Bossa chord melody guitar tabs page 2

 

Blue Bossa – Solo Study #2

Backing Track (155 bpm)

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Listen & Play-Along

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Blue Bossa easy guitar solo page 1

Blue Bossa easy guitar solo page 2

Blue Bossa easy guitar solo page 3

 

Blue Bossa – Arpeggio Study 1

Arpeggios are an important tool for jazz musicians because they enable you to mirror the harmony of a tune in your solo, something that’s harder to achieve with scales.

The best way to learn arpeggios is:

  • Memorize the shapes for all chord types in all positions.
  • Play them over chord changes in one position without stopping (in continuous 8th notes). This forces you to come out of your comfort zone because you’ll end up in places on the guitar neck that you’re not very familiar with.
  • Do this in all positions.

 

The following arpeggio study over Blue Bossa will help you on your way. I play the arpeggios continuously up and down the strings and stay in one position.

Here’s how you use the study:

  • First, memorize the arpeggio shapes of Blue Bossa (see below).
  • Play the study a couple of times.
  • Now try the exercise without the sheet music.
  • Try starting on another note of the chord. I begin the study on the root of Cm7, but try starting on any other chord tone.
  • When you know this position well, go to another position and do the same. Try starting on the C of the 6th string for example.

These studies are not meant to sound good, but they are a good way to master arpeggios so you can use them in a more creative and musical way in your solos.

 

Blue Bossa Arpeggio Shapes

Here are the arpeggio shapes used in this study:

Cm7

Cm7 arpeggio

Fm7

Fm7 arpeggio

Dm7b5

Dm7b5 arpeggio

G7

G7 arpeggio

Ebm7

Ebm7 arpeggio

Ab7

Ab7 arpeggio

Dbmaj7

Dbmaj7 arpeggio

 

Listen & Play Along

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Blue Bossa arpeggio study 1

Blue Bossa Arpeggios 1 Guitar Pro FileDownload Guitar Pro 7 File

 

Blue Bossa – Arpeggio Study 2

In study 2 we add the first extension to every chord (the 9) by using chord substitutions.

Here’s how this substitution works:

  1. You know that chords are built by stacking triads. For example, a Cmaj7 chord is built with the notes C E G B
  2. Instead of stopping at the 7, we can add more thirds. In the case of Cmaj7, we can add a third on top of the B, the D.
  3. The result is a Cmaj9 chord: C E G B D
  4. Now you omit the root of that chord. These notes are left: E G B D, the notes of Em7.
  5. Instead of playing a Cmaj7 arpeggio over Cmaj7, you will now play an Em7 arpeggio over Cmaj7.

 

Playing an Em7 arpeggio over Cmaj7 gives you the major 9 sound:

 

Em7 Arpeggio E G B D
Played over Cmaj7 3 5 7 9

 

Playing substitutions gives you a richer sound compared to playing the vanilla arpeggios, something that is almost always desirable. Make yourself accustomed to playing chord substitutions instead of the plain chords.

 

Blue Bossa Arpeggio Substitutions

Here are the substitutions for Blue Bossa’s chords:

Cm7: Ebmaj7

Ebmaj7 arpeggio

Fm7: Abmaj7

Abmaj7 arpeggio

Dm7b5: here we play the plain chord for now.

Dm7b5 arpeggio 2

G7: Bdim7

Bdim7 arpeggio

Ebm7: Gbmaj7

Gbmaj7 arpeggio

Ab7: Cm7b5

Cm7b5 arpeggio

Dbmaj7: Fm7

Fm7 arpeggio 2

 

Listen & Play Along

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Blue Bossa arpeggio study 2

Blue Bossa Arpeggios 2 Guitar Pro FileDownload Guitar Pro 7 File

 

Blue Bossa – Backing Track Video (130 BPM)

To practice improvising over Blue Bossa, you can use the following “Karaoke-style” backing track video, made with Band in a Box.

 

Backing Tracks: Blue Bossa (130 bmp)

 

Related Lesson: Blue Bossa Guitar Chords

 

Jazz Guitar Patterns & Phrases Volume 1

 

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64 thoughts on “Blue Bossa”

  1. kent

    how is this website free? the information is exceptional

  2. Situs83

    Merci de nous faire partager tout ce savoir.

  3. Martin

    I am most grateful to you for this wonderful lesson Dirk – you are a Star Sir!

  4. david

    Hi Dirk,

    Is it possible to download all the mp3 examples as a set/en bloc please?

    Brilliant lesson – great clarity. Thank you.

    David

  5. Placidino

    Hello Dirk ! Thank you so much for the great job you are doing in this site.
    Be careful though not to write CM7 (CMajor 7) when you mean Cm7 (C-7). It’s only a question of letter but it can be confusing for beginners.

    I wish you the best

    Placidino

  6. Herman Pijnenburg

    Hoi Dirk, weer een mooi arrangement en solo. Mag ik vragen of je een effect gebruikt voor je geluid. Is mooi en helder. Ik probeer dat geluid ook te krijgen.
    Gr. Herman

    1. Dirk Laukens

      Dag Herman, ik gebruik geen effecten buiten een reverb (Strymon Flint). Als gitaar gebruik ik een Gibson ES-175 van 1973 en een Fender Tone Masters Twin Reverb. Grtjs!

      1. Herman

        Dank je voor je antwoord. Ikzelf heb ook een ES175. Uit 1975. Gebruik ik met een Polytone. Vind het geluid soms te schel. Blijf verder experimenteren.
        Groetjes,
        Herman Pijnenburg

  7. Paul

    Even if this were not a lesson that is a great solo – phrasing, tone, variation!
    Time for you to release an album of your own.

    1. Dirk Laukens

      Thanks for the kind feedback Paul!

  8. Sébastien

    What a fantastic job ! Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing this knowledge. Infinite respect for what your are doing with this website.

  9. Rocky Evangelisti

    Thanks Dirk! Love your work!!

    1. Anonymous

      Muito obrigado professor Dirk! Espero por mais materiais assim.

  10. David Knowles

    Thank you for this lesson.
    One of my favorites and one of the major standards to study.
    I’m looking forward to working on the arps, my current focus. The chord studies, which I know best, are fun to jam along with. I’d like to see even more ideas for the comping, with vocalist, trio, keyboard combos in mind.
    Also, have you done Wave? Another great Jobim standard. Many artists, such as Romero Lumbambo, love to impro on it. So rich.

  11. Bill Wurtzel

    Bravo. Fantastic job!!!

  12. Ed Desteiguer

    Dirk: Great lesson, much appreciated! I’ve always enjoyed this tune!

  13. Adam

    I’ve checked out a few different Jazz Guitar courses in the last few years and Dirks approach is the best I’ve come across yet. Great stuff!!

  14. James Towler

    Wow fantastic lesson man. I love you playing style it’s so smooth

  15. Grateful Geezer

    So much to glean from just one song, one arrangement. I spent weeks learning and perfecting technique because your lesson was so well conceived. Well done Dirk.

  16. Mathieu

    Super!! Merci beaucoup !!!!

  17. Francesco

    Excellent work. Many thanks

  18. rbandi

    ottimi, veramente utile e ben fatto … grazie !!!

  19. PABLO GUERREIRO FERNANDEZ

    Amazing!!! Thank you very myuch!!

  20. Rob

    Wow this is such a great lesson!!! Thanks Dirk! Will you be doing more like this?

  21. Henck

    Thank you Dirk ! You did a wonderful job presenting this tune into a step-by-step arrangement. Top notch approach for guitarists with ambitions for proficiency !

  22. ramildo aparecido zancan

    Grande Lição Musical !!!! Grande Dirk Laukens !!!!! Fantastic !! Admiravel Demais !!!!

  23. Bluescat

    Wow! Great lesson. I already knew (I thought I knew…) this standard but you open so many improvisation options. Thank you so much

  24. Jean-Pierre

    Hi, thanks for this, very nice solo too, I will be stealing a lot from it particularly for the B where I get stuck sometime

  25. Elías David Baena

    Interesante el toque personal a la interpretación y excelente el solo.Felicitaciones maestro

  26. Rozhman Piran

    Amazing, thank you🙏👍😊

  27. donald k wilson

    WOW, more like this to come…? WOW…! Thank You

  28. Ramesh

    Brilliant high quality lesson. Thanks.

  29. JOAO CARLOS VERNETTI

    Thank you very much for this class of high quality, didactic, rich and wonderful content. Congratulations. I will enjoy this study a lot. Big hug from the South of Brazil, from the city of Porto Alegre-RS.

  30. Mark Forbes

    Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and passion for jazz. I am new to this style and greatly appreciate what you give . Thank you from Australia.

  31. Andrbar

    This is great work, thanks a lot for publishing!

  32. Roman

    Excellent lesson, excellent playing

  33. valerio

    Great idea the pdf, I prefer to read on paper…

  34. Dee

    A very nice tune and an excellent class, thank you very much.

  35. Salvador

    Excelente trabajo. Muchas gracias maestro.

  36. Germain

    Hi! Thank you for sending me the free ebook, I really like it and I am very happy so please send me more and by the way do you have the solo of Lately of George Benson?

  37. RICHARD REISMAN

    Hello, I found the harmonic analysis with the chords and the scales that can be used very helpful. Thanks.

  38. Mike

    Is it possible to get this lesson as a pdf so I can print it out? Thank you for the wonderful lesson either way.

    1. Dirk Laukens

      Hey Mike, there’s a “Print & PDF” button at the bottom of the lesson. Cheers!

  39. Michael K.

    Thank you again for another well structured, great looking and helpful lesson!
    While reading and listening to the playalongs I remembered having written some words to the melody many years ago, so I’d like to contribute these to the community in case someone’s looking for an alternative to already existing lyrics of the wonderful “Blue Bossa”.

    Blue Bossa

    The colours of my heart speak silently
    One of them will talk as pain to me
    Yellow, red and green supposedly are true
    But everything I can see is blue

    The colours of my heart speak silently
    Blue’s become the word for pain to see
    If you sent a sign I would be there you
    If your love once for all was true

    Music by Kenny Dorham/ these words by Michael Koschorreck, GEMA

  40. Steve

    All great suggestions but I think that you should add that people should learn to sing the melody and bass line.

  41. Alex M Merola

    Excellent lesson breakdown…thanks

  42. António Carvalho

    Complete lesson…thanks

  43. Fantastic Dirk! I’ll add this to my recently purchased Sunny and Take Five study guides. Your study guides are incredible. U and Matt deserve the Grammy for jazz instruction! Many thanks!

  44. raul zapata

    Great lesson!!!
    Thx a lot.

  45. milkmannnv

    Thank you for the nice chord comping lessons.They have really helped solidify my chord vocabulary,song structure and melodic chord phrasing.Thanks again!:)

  46. Poupak

    I love it , 2 months ago I had a performance and this one was in the repertoire . first day learning all the chords seemed difficult to me but gradually after practicing I could play it without looking at the paper 🙂

  47. GCT

    Great lesson and comments on Brazilian styling

  48. Thanks for this – filled in some questions I’d had for years.

  49. Eni

    Many thanks for sharing. I am still not in this league of players yet but the simpleness of your notes furnishes me with the encouragement I need to plod on

  50. Sharon Kathleen Johnson

    Reminds me of “Girl from Ipanema”.

  51. chuck potzer

    This was a fun and relatively easy lesson for me after recently having gone through the Carlos Arana bossa nova study book….a very good foundational to intermediate level book with CD examples,music and tabs. The best I’ve found of the several I own.

    The chord change in Blue Bossa from Fm7 to Dm7b5 is so subtle and sweet…and typical of the style. Please keep it coming. Thanks.

  52. Hamilton

    At a time when there’s a daily stampede to get into your email inbox with all kinds of stuff, I’ve got to say that your tips/lessons have been really good, refreshing and helpful. Thank you for taking the time to share your craft and gift with many. May the gift of giving grant you the life of your dreams,daily. Keep Jammin’

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