Pedro Navaja in G#

Pedro Navaja in G#

Pedro Navaja in G#: Rubén Blades's minor salsa. Dorian and Harmonic Minor scales give this groove its characteristic dark edge. Chords: G#sus4 – F#sus4 – A#m7 – C7 – Bmaj7 – A# – G#6 – F7 – D#7 – E7 – A6 – F#7 – Bm7 – A#6 – G7 – Cm7 – B6 – G#7 – C#m7 – C6 – A7 – Dm7.

Pedro Navaja in G#

G# major (or Ab) lives at fret 4 on the low E string. All chords require barre technique, making it less common in guitar-centric songwriting but standard in piano-driven pop. Guitarists often use a capo to access friendlier shapes. G# is a intermediate-advanced-level key on guitar because the open G string is a half step below the root, creating dissonance — avoid letting it ring. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

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

Scales for Improvisation

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