Pedro Navaja in D

Pedro Navaja in D

Pedro Navaja in D: Rubén Blades's minor salsa. Dorian and Harmonic Minor scales give this groove its characteristic dark edge. Chords: Dsus4 – Csus4 – Em7 – F#7 – Fmaj7 – E – D6 – B7 – A7 – A#7 – D#6 – C7 – Fm7 – E6 – C#7 – F#m7 – F6 – D7 – Gm7 – F#6 – D#7 – G#m7.

Pedro Navaja in D

D major is one of guitar's most resonant keys. The open D string acts as a droning root, and the open A string provides the fifth. This gives D-based strumming a wide, ringing quality that flatpicks and fingerpicks love. D is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open D and A strings provide a powerful bass foundation, and the open high E is the 2nd scale degree adding brightness. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

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

Scales for Improvisation

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