Chord & FretBossa nova · ii-V-I — Electric guitar
What is the Bossa nova · ii-V-I progression?
The Bossa nova · ii-V-I progression is Dm → G → C (ii – V – I), in the key of C. Read as harmonic function it moves subdominant → dominant → tonic, arriving home on a cadence. Play one chord per bar and let it loop.
Good music works like a good walk: you leave, get a little lost on purpose, and come back. The map of this one: Dm (ii, the stroll) → G (V, time to come back) → C (I, home). Press play and follow along — at the "time to come back" chord, notice the physical urge to hear C again — the home chord.
Electric guitar
On an electric guitar you rarely have to cover the low bass yourself, because in a band the bass player takes that job, so your chords can sit higher and cleaner. The electric guitar is not the traditional voice of samba or choro, but it fits MPB and modern arrangements well, adding smooth chords and quiet fills beside the core rhythm instruments. Its home chord C keeps its lowest note on C and rings 2 open strings.
Cadences — Harmony comes to rest here — hear every cadence type and train your ear · see it in Chord & Fret
Save this progression in Chord & FretReharmonize — Want richer substitutions? Reharmonize the progression in a tap · use it in Chord & Fret
Learn each chord of the trip
This is one shape of C. In Chord & Fret, you open every position of all 3 chords in this progression along the neck — on any instrument, and hear each one. Open in Chord & Fret →
Metronome — Drill this change in time, with tap tempo and subdivisions · try it in Chord & Fret
If this scale won you over, the Chord & Fret app plays it along with you — any key, any tuning. It's on the App Store and Google Play.