Standards · 1967
Wave chords & key
- Key
- D major
- Form
- BBAA
- Bars
- 44
- Groove
- Bossa nova
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Year
- 1967
“Wave” is a jazz standard by Antonio-Carlos Jobim from 1967. Most bands play it in D major, bossa nova; the tune runs 44 bars in BBAA form. Harmonically it contains 5 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 22 different chords and moves between the key centres G major, F major and E♭ major. In this atlas it appears on 4 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — D major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- Dm7×6
- G7×6
- Dmaj7×3
- A♯dim7×3
- Am7×3
- D7♭9×3
Key centres reached by ii–V
G major, F major and E♭ major
History
"Wave" (or "Vou Te Contar" in Portuguese; lit. transl. "I am going to tell you") is a bossa nova and jazz standard song written by Antônio Carlos Jobim. Recorded as an instrumental on his 1967 album of the same name, its English lyrics were written by Jobim himself later that year. However, the version by Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 was the first release of the tune, sung by Lani Hall with Mendes on their second album, Equinox, in 1967. The English lyrics were used on the February 11, 1969, recording by Frank Sinatra, on his 1970 album Sinatra & Company. They were also used by Johnny Mathis in his 1970 album Close to You. "Wave" was voted the 73rd greatest Brazilian song by the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone magazine. According to The Jazz Discography by Tom Lord, the song has been recorded nearly 500 times by jazz artists.
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Recorded on these albums
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
Frequently asked questions
What key is Wave in?
Wave is usually played in D major. For B♭ instruments that is E major, for E♭ instruments B major.
Who wrote Wave?
Wave was written by Antonio-Carlos Jobim (1967).
What is the form of Wave?
Wave has 4 sections (BBAA) with 44 bars in total.
How fast is Wave played?
The usual groove is Bossa nova.
What are the chord changes to Wave?
The opening bars are Dmaj7 | A#dim7 | Am7 | D7b9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.