Arallué in B

Rubén Blades(1978)guaguanco-guarachaGuaguancó/Guaracha ♩= 110
Do Re MiC D E
Clave 2-3
I
n
t
r
o
-
A
B
C
D
E
G9♯11
F9♯11
F9♯11
D♯9♯11
Dmaj9
G69

Chord Diagrams — Arallué in B (Guitar)

Arallué in B

Arallué in B

B major mixes barre and open elements. The B chord itself is a barre at fret 2, but E and A are comfortable open chords forming the IV and V. The open B string rings as the root, allowing creative drone-based arrangements. B is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open B string rings as the root and the open E strings provide the 4th — useful for sus4 voicings and drone effects. This key mixes open and barre shapes, making it a good intermediate challenge that builds fretboard fluency.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through B to A (descending whole step), A to G (descending whole step), G to F (descending whole step), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to E (ascending half step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to G (ascending major third), G to A (ascending whole step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from A to B by whole step.

Scales for Improvisation

B major pentatonic works because every note is either a chord tone or a safe passing tone — there are no avoid notes. For soloing, this means you can play freely without clashing. Over dominant seventh chords, B Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

guaguanco-guaracha4/4 · 18 bars · Form: Intro-ABCDE

Chords: Bm9, Am9, G9♯11, F9♯11, D♯9♯11, Em7, A7♭9, Dmaj9, Gmaj7, F♯m7, D♯maj7, G69, A9.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop minor, B bebop.