Sabiá in C

Tom Jobim / Chico Buarque(1968)bossa-novaBossa nova lenta
Do Re MiC D E
C
Instrument
GuitarUkuleleBassPiano
A
A
B
A
Cmaj7
Dm7
G7
Cmaj7
Cm7
F7
A♯maj7
G7
Cmaj7
Dm7
G7
Cmaj7
Cm7
F7
A♯maj7
G7
Em7
Am7
Dm7
G7
Em7♭5
A7
Dm7
G7
Cmaj7
Dm7
G7
Cmaj7
Cm7
F7
A♯maj7
G7

Chord Diagrams — Sabiá in C (Guitar)

Sabiá in C

Tom Jobim y Chico Buarque compusieron 'Sabiá' en 1968 y ganó el Festival Internacional da Canção en Brasil —una victoria polémica que el público abucheó porque prefería a Caetano Veloso. Un sabiá es un tordo americano, ave símbolo de la añoranza del Brasil distante. La modulación Ebm7-Ab7-Dbmaj7 en la sección A —un ii-V-I que baja un semitono al bVI— es el giro jobimiano por excelencia: una caída armónica que lleva la melancolía exactamente adonde la letra la necesita.

Sabiá in C

With no sharps or flats, C major is the theoretical home base on guitar. The open G, B, and high E strings all belong to the C major chord, creating natural sustain. C is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open B and high E strings ring within the scale, and every basic chord uses familiar open shapes. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through C to D (ascending whole step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth). The root motion by larger intervals (fourths and fifths) gives each chord change a strong, decisive character. When the progression loops, the bass returns from A to C by minor third.

Scales for Improvisation

C major pentatonic works because every note is either a chord tone or a safe passing tone — there are no avoid notes. For soloing, this means you can play freely without clashing. Over dominant seventh chords, C Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

bossa-nova4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: Cmaj7, Dm7, G7, Cm7, F7, A♯maj7, Em7, Am7, Em7♭5, A7.