Manteca in A#

Manteca in A#

Manteca in A# — Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo, Gil Fuller's Afro-Cuban jazz classic. Explore Bebop Major and Mixolydian scales to unlock the harmonic richness of these changes. Chords: A#7 – A#13 – G#13 – A#9 – A#13#11 – G#13#11 – F#maj9 – Bmaj9 – Bmaj9#11 – F7#9 – G#m9 – C#13b9 – B9#11 – D#9 – G7 – Cm7 – F7 – Dm7 – C7 – D#m7 – G#9 – C#7b9 – G#maj9 – C#7#9 – F#m7b5 – B7b9 – Fm7b5 – A#7#9 – Cm7b5 – F7b9.

Manteca in A#

A# (Bb) major requires barre chords rooted at fret 1 on the A string or fret 6 on the E string. Despite the barre demands, it is a common key in funk, New Orleans R&B, and brass band music. The open D string can ring as the major third for added color. A# is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open D string is the major 3rd of Bb, adding a bright color if allowed to ring. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

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

Scales for Improvisation

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