I learned to play Brazilian Bossa Nova by listening to João Gilberto. His approach to was very consistent and served a the perfect guide for authenticity. There are several variation to this pattern but this one will serve to majority of the song you will play.
- Play finger-style
- Stay relaxed
- Allow your thumb to lock into the cut time for meter stability
One thing I discovered is that if you play the same pattern across entire sections with moving chords it will not sound repetitive or boring. The stability of the rhythm and feel will serve the song.
