Alfonsina y el Mar in A#
Alfonsina y el Mar in A#
Ariel Ramírez compuso la música y Félix Luna la letra de 'Alfonsina y el Mar' en 1969, evocando el suicidio de la poeta argentina Alfonsina Storni en el mar de Mar del Plata en 1938. Mercedes Sosa la grabó ese mismo año y la convirtió en himno de la nueva canción latinoamericana. El Em oscila hacia Am y vuelve con la inevitabilidad del oleaje; el puente en G mayor —el relativo mayor— es el único instante de luz antes del regreso al mar.
Alfonsina y el Mar in A#
A# (Bb) major requires barre chords rooted at fret 1 on the A string or fret 6 on the E string. Despite the barre demands, it is a common key in funk, New Orleans R&B, and brass band music. The open D string can ring as the major third for added color. A# is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open D string is the major 3rd of Bb, adding a bright color if allowed to ring. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.
Voice Leading
The bass line moves through A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to F (ascending whole step), F to C# (descending major third), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth). 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 A# by whole step.
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.