Pedro Navaja in B

Pedro Navaja in B

Pedro Navaja in B: Rubén Blades's minor salsa. Dorian and Harmonic Minor scales give this groove its characteristic dark edge. Chords: Bsus4 – Asus4 – C#m7 – D#7 – Dmaj7 – C# – B6 – G#7 – F#7 – G7 – C6 – A7 – Dm7 – C#6 – A#7 – D#m7 – D6 – B7 – Em7 – D#6 – C7 – Fm7.

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

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.