Pablo Pueblo in B

Pablo Pueblo in B

Pablo Pueblo in B: Rubén Blades's minor salsa. Dorian and Harmonic Minor scales give this groove its characteristic dark edge. Chords: F#7b9 – Bm69 – Em7 – A7#9 – A7b9 – Dmaj7 – G#7 – G69 – C#7#9 – F#13 – C9 – C#m7b5 – F13 – E13 – A7 – Dmaj9 – D#maj9 – G#69#11 – G69#11 – C#7 – Bm11 – Bm9 – B7 – G#9#11 – Gmaj7 – F#7 – Bm7 – G#7b9.

Pablo Pueblo 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 F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to G (descending half step), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to F (ascending major third), F to E (descending half step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to G (descending half step), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to B (descending whole step), B to B (ascending unison), B to B (ascending unison), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to G (descending half step), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to G# (descending minor 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 G# to F# 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.