Las Golondrinas in B

Las Golondrinas in B

Narciso Serradell Sevilla compuso 'Las Golondrinas' en 1862 en París, exiliado como estudiante después de la Reforma; la nostalgia del exiliado que contempla las golondrinas y les pide llevar su mensaje a la patria se convirtió en la canción oficial de despedida de México. Se canta al final de las fiestas, de los graduaciones, de los conciertos. 'A do vuela veloz / golondrina que huyes mi amor...' — el A-E7-D de la canción del siglo XIX que el siglo XXI sigue cantando.

Las Golondrinas in B

B major mixes barre and open elements. The B chord itself is a barre at fret 2, but E and A are comfortable open chords forming the IV and V. The open B string rings as the root, allowing creative drone-based arrangements. B is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open B string rings as the root and the open E strings provide the 4th — useful for sus4 voicings and drone effects. This key mixes open and barre shapes, making it a good intermediate challenge that builds fretboard fluency.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to C# (descending minor 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 B by minor third.

Scales for Improvisation

B 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, B Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.