Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Bossa Baroque on piano
By Dave Grusin
- C minor
- 3/4
- 85 BPM
- 1984
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Bossa Baroque in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Cm – Dm – G7 – Cm
How it goes
Bossa Baroque sits in C minor: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Cm is C, Eb and G; Dm is D, F and A; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CmiDmiiG7V7Cmi- CmC · Eb · G
- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Waltz ripple
How it goes
A ripple of three notes in three-time. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (3/4) (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 473 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 85 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: Ab – Bb – Cm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbCm- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Bossa Baroque
What chords are in Bossa Baroque?
The loop is Cm – Dm – G7 – Cm (i – ii – V7 – i) in C minor, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Cm.
What key is Bossa Baroque in?
C minor, at about 85 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Bossa Baroque?
Waltz ripple: broken chord 1-5-8 (3/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Bossa Baroque easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.