Jazz lead sheet · Intermediate
Blue Bossa
A bossa nova in C minor with a brief, bright trip to D♭ major.
- Composer
- Kenny Dorham
- Form
- 16 bars
- Key
- C minor
- Style
- Bossa nova
- Length
- 16 bars
AC minor
i7C Dorian
i7C Dorian
iv7F Dorian
iv7F Dorian
iiø7D Locrian
V7G Altered
i7C Dorian
i7C Dorian
BD♭ major
ii7E♭ Dorian
V7A♭ Mixolydian
Imaj7D♭ Ionian
Imaj7D♭ Ionian
C minor
iiø7D Locrian
V7G Altered
i7C Dorian
iiø7D Locrian
V7G Altered
For students
What to notice
- The first eight bars stay in C minor: i–iv, then a minor ii–V–i (Dm7♭5–G7–Cm7).
- Bars 9–12 jump to D♭ major with its own ii–V–I (E♭m7–A♭7–D♭maj7), a half step above the home key.
- Bars 13–16 return home with the same minor ii–V as before.
Practice plan
Three steps to improvising
- Practise C Dorian to D♭ Ionian and back until the switch feels natural.
- Play the guide tones through bars 8–11, where the key changes.
- Improvise a phrase in C minor and move it up a half step for the D♭ section.
For teachers
Using this chart in class
- Project the chart with Play along running and loop one section while students find the guide tones.
- Choose Practice → Name the numerals for a whole-class quiz: students vote, then reveal the explanation.
- Mixed ensemble? Print the worksheet once per transposition: B♭, E♭, F and bass clef parts all line up bar for bar.
- Share a link: the key, instrument and view you choose are saved in the address bar.
Chord changes are common performance versions written out by Music Theory Lessons. No melodies or lyrics are reproduced. Names of songs and composers are used only to identify each tune.