Blue Bossa in Mi

Kenny Dorham(1963)bossaMedium Bossa
A

Chord Diagrams — Blue Bossa in Mi (Guitar)

Blue Bossa in Mi

Blue Bossa in E — bossa nova minor with a pivotal modulation to Db major at the bridge. Use Dorian in the minor sections and Harmonic Minor over the dominant for the Latin feel. Changes: Em7 – Am7 – F#m7b5 – B7b9 – Gm7 – C7 – FMaj7.

Blue Bossa in Mi

E major is arguably guitar's most powerful key. The open low E and high E strings ring sympathetically as the root, while the open B provides the fifth. This triple reinforcement gives E-based riffs and chords unmatched depth and volume. E is a beginner-level key on guitar because both the low E and high E strings ring as the root, and the open B is the fifth — three open strings reinforce the tonic chord. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

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

Scales for Improvisation

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

bossa4/4 · 16 bars · Form: A

Chords: Mim7, Lam7, Fa♯m7♭5, Si7♭9, Solm7, Do7, FaMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation Mi dorian, Mi aeolian, Mi minor pentatonic, Mi minor blues, Mi harmonic minor, Mi bebop minor, Mi bebop.