In this lesson, we’ll explore a beautiful and innovative Brazilian guitar technique created by the legendary Luiz Bonfá.
Luiz Bonfá Fingerstyle Technique
Bonfá showcased this distinctive fingerstyle approach on several classic tracks from his iconic 1959 album Solo in Rio 1959, most notably in “Manha de Carnaval,” “Sambolero,” and parts of “Uma Prece” (A Prayer).
What makes this technique so special is the way it transforms the right hand into a complete little ensemble:
- And the ring finger takes the lead with the melody.
- The thumb becomes the bass player.
- The index and middle fingers act as the rhythm section.
The role of each finger:
- Ring finger (a) — This is your melody voice. It plays the primary melodic notes, usually on the top three strings (1, 2, and 3). When the melody rests, the ring finger can lend extra support to the rhythm by joining in on the 3rd string.
- Thumb (p) — Using flesh only (no nail), the thumb plays steady bass notes on the 6th string, landing solidly on beat 1 of each measure — the heartbeat of the groove.
- Index (i) and middle (m) fingers — These two create the signature rhythmic pulse. They strike upward (using the nails) on the 4th and 5th strings on beats 2 and 4, producing that characteristic brushing, percussive sound that mimics a bossa nova or samba rhythm section.
Example with Tab
As an example of this technique, we will use a melody over an A chord to an F#m chord and then back to A.
Manha de Carnaval
This performance of “Manha de Carnaval” (also known as “Black Orpheus”) which demonstrates the technique.
Fingerstyle Guitar Tab
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