Outra Vez - Bossa Nova Guitar Lesson #21: Ghost Notes

This transcription is based on the several recordings by João Gilberto, the first one with vocals by Elizeth Cardoso and released on Canção de Amor Demais, the second one he also sang and released on album O Amor, o Sorriso e a Flor and finally on the version that João Gilberto performed live in the famous Carnegie Hall concert in November 1962. Finally some minor changes were made based on Jobim's own instrumental recording from his album A Certain Mr. Jobim.

The lesson shows the usage of ghost notes in playing bossa nova rhythms. In bossa nova those are typically played on the last beat of the measure in the anticipation of a chord change. Everything is performed as if the chord change is about to happen on that last beat except that the strings are not pressed against the fretboard, but just lightly touched, as if the intention is to mute them. The pressure needs to be firm enough to prevent the sound of the open strings, still light enough so they don't even come close to the frets.

Few things to note about guitar accompaniment:

1. The first studio recording was played in B, while the second was either played in C or it was pitched up one semitone. Since the live version was also played in B we have chosen B for this lesson. Jobim's instrumental version was played in D.

2. The tempo of these recordings also varies significantly, from 75 in live version, 85 in João Gilberto's studio recording and the same tempo was also used by Jobim, while in the first recording with Elizeth Cardoso they played at 100 bpm. We set the tempo somewhere in the middle, that is 80 bpm.

Enjoy playing Outra Vez!

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Video by bossanovaguitar.com, 2018
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