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: Gsus4 – Fsus4 – Am7 – B7 – A#maj7 – A – G6 – E7 – D7 – D#7 – G#6 – F7 – A#m7 – A6 – F#7 – Bm7 – A#6 – G7 – Cm7 – B6 – G#7 – C#m7.

Pedro Navaja in G

G major is the singer-songwriter's key. The open G, B, and D strings spell out the full G major triad with zero fretting. Add the open high E for a Gadd6 shimmer. Nearly every diatonic chord (Em, Am, C, D) has a comfortable open voicing. G is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open G, B, and D strings form a complete G major triad without fretting a single note, and the open low E adds a rich 6th color. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

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