Pedro Navaja in A

Pedro Navaja in A

Pedro Navaja in A: Rubén Blades's minor salsa. Dorian and Harmonic Minor scales give this groove its characteristic dark edge. Chords: Asus4 – Gsus4 – Bm7 – C#7 – Cmaj7 – B – A6 – F#7 – E7 – F7 – A#6 – G7 – Cm7 – B6 – G#7 – C#m7 – C6 – A7 – Dm7 – C#6 – A#7 – D#m7.

Pedro Navaja in A

A major is a rock and blues cornerstone. The open A string delivers a strong root, while both E strings ring as the fifth. Classic A-D-E progressions practically play themselves with open cowboy chords. The open high E is the fifth, reinforcing power. A is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open A string is the root and the open E strings provide the fifth above and below, creating a massive low-end anchor. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

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

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.