La Valentina in A#

La Valentina in A#

La Valentina es un corrido revolucionario mexicano cuyo origen se disputa entre Jalisco y Sinaloa, popularizado durante la Revolución Mexicana de 1910. 'Valentina, Valentina / yo te quisiera decir / que por Dios me estoy muriendo / pero no es por ti'. La paradoja —muero pero no es por ti— es el humor negro del corrido: machismo, amor y muerte mezclados con guitarras. El C-G7-F es el corrido en su forma más desnuda: tres acordes, una historia, un pueblo entero que la canta.

La Valentina 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 F (descending perfect fourth), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to G (ascending major 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 G to A# by minor third.

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.