Arallué in A

Rubén Blades(1978)guaguanco-guarachaGuaguancó/Guaracha ♩= 110
Do Re MiC D E
Clave 2-3
I
n
t
r
o
-
A
B
C
D
E
F9♯11
D♯9♯11
D♯9♯11
C♯9♯11
Cmaj9
F69

Chord Diagrams — Arallué in A (Guitar)

Arallué in A

Arallué in A

A major is a rock and blues cornerstone. The open A string delivers a strong root, while both E strings ring as the fifth. Classic A-D-E progressions practically play themselves with open cowboy chords. The open high E is the fifth, reinforcing power. A is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open A string is the root and the open E strings provide the fifth above and below, creating a massive low-end anchor. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through A to G (descending whole step), G to F (descending whole step), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to D (ascending half step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to E (descending half step), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to F (ascending major third), F to G (ascending whole step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. 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.

guaguanco-guaracha4/4 · 18 bars · Form: Intro-ABCDE

Chords: Am9, Gm9, F9♯11, D♯9♯11, C♯9♯11, Dm7, G7♭9, Cmaj9, Fmaj7, Em7, C♯maj7, F69, G9.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop minor, A bebop.