“How Insensitive” (“Insensatez”) was composed by Antônio Carlos Jobim with lyrics by Vinícius de Moraes, and English lyrics by Norman Gimbel. It was released in the early 1960s and is often noted for its resemblance to Chopin’s Prelude in E minor, Op. 28, No. 4, with its slowly descending harmony.
The tune is usually played in D minor. Its harmony descends gradually, chord by chord, while the melody stays mostly on a few notes, creating a mournful, inward-looking mood. The form is 32 bars with a bossa nova feel.
Section by section: in the opening phrases, follow the descending bass line with notes that move by half step, letting the harmony carry the emotion. Over the minor chords, use D Dorian or melodic minor; over the dominant chords, use harmonic minor or altered sounds. In the second half, the harmony repeats with variations; keep your phrases simple and lyrical. Bossa nova calls for straight eighth notes and soft dynamics.
Practice with a slow bossa groove. Learn the melody by singing it. Pianists and guitarists should practice smooth voice leading through the descending chords.
Transposing tip: Bb instruments read it in E minor, Eb instruments in B minor.
How to use this How Insensitive Lead Sheet PDF: print it or keep it on a tablet, mark the form sections and key centers in pencil, and write the guide tones you want to target above the tricky bars. Revisit those notes after each practice session so the tune gets easier every week.
Getting the most from the How Insensitive Lead Sheet PDF: start by reading the chord symbols without your instrument and humming the roots. Then circle any chord you can’t yet voice or arpeggiate, and make those your warm-up for the week before you play the whole form.
Is it hard to play? It’s intermediate. Recordings to study: Astrud Gilberto, Frank Sinatra and Jobim’s own versions. Learn more about the composer on Antônio Carlos Jobim’s Wikipedia page, and find more bossa nova lead sheets on Minedit.