Bossa Nova Rhythm on Guitar: Thumb Bass and Syncopation

What the thumb plays

The thumb plays the bass evenly on beats one and three, alternating the root and the fifth of the chord. It works like a metronome and does not depend on what the other fingers do. If the bass wobbles, the whole rhythm falls apart, so start with it.

What the other fingers play

The chord played with the fingers sounds not on the beats but between them: on the syncopations. Together with the even bass this is the signature bossa nova rhythm. The chords are often played on three or four strings so the bass stays separate for the thumb.

How to practise

Go from simple to complex and do not hurry:

• First only the thumb bass on one and three with a metronome.
• When the bass is automatic, add chords on the syncopations: slowly, one bar at a time.
• Play softly, with the fingers close to the neck, and do not fill the pauses.

A metronome for the bass

Set the metronome to 70-80 beats per minute and play the bass note on the first and third beats. This is the base: if it is even, the rest is easy to add.

Chords for bossa nova

The harmony is close to jazz: Dm7, G7, Cmaj7 is a ii-V-I in C major, and A7 leads back to Dm7. Press Play the progression, listen to how soft the seventh chords sound and try playing them with three fingers on the top strings.

What to read next

How to read chord symbols: seventh chord symbols. Rhythm and beats: how to read rhythm on guitar. Finger technique: the independent thumb. For more about the genre see the Bossa Nova on Guitar page in the genres section.