Jazz lead sheet · Intermediate
The Girl from Ipanema
A bossa nova classic whose 16-bar bridge travels far from home through new keys.
- Composer
- Antônio Carlos Jobim
- Form
- AABA, 40 bars
- Key
- F major
- Style
- Bossa nova
- Length
- 40 bars
A1F major
Imaj7F Ionian
Imaj7F Ionian
II7G Lydian ♭7
II7G Lydian ♭7
ii7G Dorian
subV7G♭ Lydian ♭7
Imaj7F Ionian
subV7G♭ Lydian ♭7
A2
Imaj7F Ionian
Imaj7F Ionian
II7G Lydian ♭7
II7G Lydian ♭7
ii7G Dorian
subV7G♭ Lydian ♭7
Imaj7F Ionian
Imaj7F Ionian
BG♭ majorE major
Imaj7G♭ Ionian
Imaj7G♭ Ionian
V7B Mixolydian
V7B Mixolydian
F major
ii7F♯ Dorian
ii7F♯ Dorian
V7/iiD Phryg. dom.
V7/iiD Phryg. dom.
ii7G Dorian
ii7G Dorian
♭VII7E♭ Lydian ♭7
♭VII7E♭ Lydian ♭7
A Dorian
V7/iiD Phryg. dom.
ii7G Dorian
V7C H–W dim.
A3
Imaj7F Ionian
Imaj7F Ionian
II7G Lydian ♭7
II7G Lydian ♭7
ii7G Dorian
subV7G♭ Lydian ♭7
Imaj7F Ionian
subV7G♭ Lydian ♭7
For students
What to notice
- G7 in bar 3 is II7: it moves to Gm7 instead of resolving, giving the opening its lift.
- G♭7 is a tritone substitute for C7, so the bass slides down a half step to F.
- The bridge visits G♭, then E (through B7 and F♯m7), then D (through D7 and Gm7), before E♭7 and two ii–Vs return home.
Practice plan
Three steps to improvising
- Play the A section guide tones and hear the half-step slide from G♭7 to Fmaj7.
- Map the bridge: say the key of each 4-bar group before you improvise over it.
- Use F major for the A sections, then change scales with every bridge chord.
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.