Verde Luz in B

Verde Luz in B

Antonio Cabán Vale 'El Topo' compuso 'Verde Luz' en 1962, considerada el himno no oficial de Puerto Rico. 'Verde luz de palma y cañaveral' evoca el paisaje caribeño con una simplicidad que la hace universal. Declarada patrimonio cultural puertorriqueño, se canta en escuelas y actos patrióticos. Danny Rivera y Cheo Feliciano figuran entre los intérpretes más queridos de esta canción que cada boricua siente como propia.

Verde Luz 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 B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to C# (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 C# to B by whole step.

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.