Lamento Borincano in E

Lamento Borincano in E

Lamento Borincano in E: Rafael Hernández's son cubano. Bebop Major and Major Pentatonic scales bring out the groove and energy of these changes. Chords: A#m – B – G#m – A#m7 – BM7b5 – G#M7 – Gm7 – F – D#/C – A#m6 – C#9 – F#M7 – Cm7b5 – F7 – G#7 – F#7 – A# – A#6 – A7#5 – G7#9 – F7sus – D#13.

Lamento Borincano in E

E major is arguably guitar's most powerful key. The open low E and high E strings ring sympathetically as the root, while the open B provides the fifth. This triple reinforcement gives E-based riffs and chords unmatched depth and volume. E is a beginner-level key on guitar because both the low E and high E strings ring as the root, and the open B is the fifth — three open strings reinforce the tonic chord. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through A# to B (ascending half step), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to B (ascending half step), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to G (descending half step), G to F (descending whole step), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to A# (descending perfect fourth), A# to C# (ascending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to G# (ascending minor third), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to A (descending half step), A to G (descending whole step), G to F (descending whole step), F to D# (descending 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 D# to A# by perfect fourth.

Scales for Improvisation

E 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, E Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.