Dile a Catalina in B
Dile a Catalina in B
Dile a Catalina in B: Arsenio Rodríguez, arr. Irakere's son cubano. Mixolydian and Major Pentatonic scales bring out the groove and energy of these changes. Chords: B – E – F# – C#m11 – Emaj7 – D#m7 – C#m7 – Bmaj7 – A#m7b5 – D#7b9 – G#m7 – C#13 – F#13 – B6 – B69 – E69 – A#7 – D#7 – G#m9 – C#13#11 – Cb13 – E13.
Dile a Catalina 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 E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to D# (descending half step), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to B (descending whole step), B to A# (descending half step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to Cb (descending half step), Cb to E (ascending major third). 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 E to B by perfect fourth.
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.