The guitar tab (chords and melody) for “Corcovado” aka “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” by Antônio Carlos Jobim is available for download as a PDF.
Corcovado
“Corcovado” (“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars”) was written in 1960 by Antônio Carlos Jobim during the early rise of bossa nova in Rio de Janeiro. Its gentle melody and intimate lyrics evoke the view from the hill beneath Corcovado. Jobim first recorded it in 1960 with understated piano and João Gilberto’s softly syncopated guitar—nylon-string, close-miked, and rhythmically subtle—helping define the modern bossa nova guitar sound.
The song reached international audiences through Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto on Getz/Gilberto (1964), with an English lyric by Gene Lees. Its cool restraint contrasted with the era’s brash pop, and its hushed vocal delivery—almost conversational—became a hallmark of the style. “Corcovado” remains a jazz standard, cherished for its simplicity, warmth, and quietly luminous harmony.
Video
In the video below, I perform the piece as transcribed.
Guitar Tab
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