Camaleón in B

Camaleón in B

Camaleón in B: Rubén Blades's minor salsa. Dorian and Harmonic Minor scales give this groove its characteristic dark edge. Chords: Bm6 – F#m7b5 – B7 – Em6 – Em7 – A7 – Dmaj7 – Gmaj7 – C#7b9 – F#7 – E13 – A13 – D13 – C#13 – C13 – E – B – Bm – Em – F# – F#7sus – C9 – Bm69 – A – G.

Camaleón 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 F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C# (descending half step), C# to C (descending half step), C to E (ascending major third), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to B (descending half step), B to A (descending whole step), A to G (descending whole step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The root motion by larger intervals (fourths and fifths) gives each chord change a strong, decisive character. When the progression loops, the bass returns from G to B by major third.

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.