Conversation With John Stowell and Genil Castro, Part 1: Discussion of Samba, Bossa Nova, Brazilian Rhythms, Harmony and Chord Progressions

In this class, John and Genil use the well known tune “Triste” from Tom Jobim to demonstrate rhythms used in Bossa Nova and Samba. Also covered are voice leading, chord inversions, movable chord shapes, artificial harmonics, double stops and open string voicings. Genil and John demonstrate how chord shapes are also useful as templates on the neck to generate single line ideas for soloing. The modes of the melodic minor are also referenced to introduce tensions/embellishments over dominant, minor and half diminished chords.