En Mi Viejo San Juan in A

En Mi Viejo San Juan in A

Noel Estrada compuso 'En Mi Viejo San Juan' en 1943 desde Nueva York, añorando Puerto Rico. Es el himno sentimental del pueblo puertorriqueño en la diáspora: cada boricua que ha salido de la isla la lleva en el corazón. Marc Anthony, Gilberto Monroig y Lola Flores la interpretaron; hoy es el vals-bolero que define la identidad puertorriqueña tanto en la isla como en el continente.

En Mi Viejo San Juan 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 F# (descending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to B (descending minor third). 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 B 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.