Standards

Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil) chords & key

Key: D major
Form: ABCD
Bars: 58
Groove: Samba
Time signature: 4/4

“Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil)” is a jazz standard by Ary Barroso. Most bands play it in D major, samba; the tune runs 58 bars in ABCD form. Harmonically it contains 8 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 16 different chords. In this atlas it appears on 4 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — D major

D⁶

D^m6

D⁶

B^7♭13

E^m7

A⁷

E^m7

A⁷

E^m7

A⁷

E^m7

A⁷

D^maj7

E^m7

A⁷

D^maj7

E^m7

A⁷

D^maj7

E^m7

A⁷

D^maj7

E^m7

A⁷

D^maj7D⁷

C♯⁷C⁷

B^7♭9

E^m

E^m♭6

E^m6

E^m♭6

E^m7

C⁷

F♯^m7

B^m7

E⁷

E^m7

A⁷

D^maj7

E^m7

A⁷

D^maj7

E^m7

A⁷

D^maj7

E^m7

A⁷

Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.

Harmonic analysis

8Major ii–V–I

0Minor ii–V–i

13ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

16Different chords

Most used chords

E^m7×19
D^maj7×17
A⁷×13
B^7♭9×12
D⁶×8
D^m6×4

Recorded on these albums

1951	Encores Américaines Josephine Baker · “Brazil”
1958	Come Fly With Me Frank Sinatra with Billy May and His Orchestra · “Brazil”
1958	Fancy Meeting You Here Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney · “Brazil”
1958	Rendezvous Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney · “Brazil/Here We Are (Face to Face Again)”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Bye Bye Blackbird 39%	Ray Henderson	F major	AB · 32	Medium swing
My Baby Just Cares For Me 31%	Walter Donaldson	A major	ABCD · 32	Medium swing
Jeepers Creepers 30%	Harry Warren	B♭ major	AABA · 34	Medium swing
He's A Tramp 29%	Lee-Burke	G major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) 29%	Jurgens-Howard	E♭ major	AB · 32	Medium swing
Always 28%	Irving Berlin	F major	ABCD · 32	Jazz waltz
Fran Dance 27%	Miles Davis	B♭ major	AABAB · 40	Medium swing
The Good Life 27%	Sacha Distel	A♭ major	AB · 32	Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil) in?

Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil) is usually played in D major. For B♭ instruments that is E major, for E♭ instruments B major.

Who wrote Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil)?

Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil) was written by Ary Barroso.

What is the form of Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil)?

Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil) has 4 sections (ABCD) with 58 bars in total.

How fast is Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil) played?

The usual groove is Samba.

What are the chord changes to Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil)?

The opening bars are D6 | D6 | D6 | D6. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.