Berimbau in A#

Berimbau in A#

Baden Powell y Vinícius de Moraes crearon el afro-samba (1963) fundiendo música de Candomblé con samba y jazz. 'Berimbau' toma el nombre del instrumento de arco de la capoeira: el ostinato Dm–C imita su ritmo hipnótico. El puente B, modal y oscuro (Gm→Em7b5→A7b9), es puro misticismo afrobrasileño.

Berimbau 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 G# (descending whole step), G# to F (descending minor third), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to C (descending minor third), C to F (ascending 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 F to A# by perfect fourth.

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.