Sabiá in G

Tom Jobim / Chico Buarque(1968)bossa-novaBossa nova lenta
Do Re MiC D E
G
Instrument
GuitarUkuleleBassPiano
A
A
B
A
Gmaj7
Am7
D7
Gmaj7
Gm7
C7
Fmaj7
D7
Gmaj7
Am7
D7
Gmaj7
Gm7
C7
Fmaj7
D7
Bm7
Em7
Am7
D7
Bm7♭5
E7
Am7
D7
Gmaj7
Am7
D7
Gmaj7
Gm7
C7
Fmaj7
D7

Chord Diagrams — Sabiá in G (Guitar)

Sabiá in G

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 G

G major is the singer-songwriter's key. The open G, B, and D strings spell out the full G major triad with zero fretting. Add the open high E for a Gadd6 shimmer. Nearly every diatonic chord (Em, Am, C, D) has a comfortable open voicing. G is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open G, B, and D strings form a complete G major triad without fretting a single note, and the open low E adds a rich 6th color. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through G to A (ascending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to B (ascending tritone), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (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 E to G by minor third.

Scales for Improvisation

G 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, G Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

bossa-nova4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: Gmaj7, Am7, D7, Gm7, C7, Fmaj7, Bm7, Em7, Bm7♭5, E7.