Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Learn Guitar Scales: Using the Dorian Mode for Great Solos

By Nick Dillon


To understand the Dorian mode it is essential that the major scale or Ionian mode is first understood. The mode is derived from the major scale by simply starting on the second note of the major scale. By making the second note now the root note, and keeping the same interval structure, we create a completely different set of sounding notes known as the Dorian mode. As you learn guitar scales you will find this mode particularly useful for soloing.

The Dorian mode is similar to the major scale with two important differences. The third is dropped a semitone as well as the seventh interval. This creates a significantly different sounding scale to that of the major scale even though they share many common notes.

As you learn guitar scales you will encounter the Aeolian mode. The Dorian mode is similar to the Aeolian mode or natural minor scale with one important difference. The Dorian mode uses a major sixth interval compared to the flattened sixth of the Aeolian. This one note difference actually makes Dorian sound much brighter.

As you learn guitar scales for soloing, you will probably start with the minor pentatonic scale. The Dorian mode is an extension of this scale. If we add a major second and major sixth to the minor pentatonic, we create the Dorian mode. Thus Dorian can give you a bluesy sound by emphasising the common pentatonic notes, namely the minor third and flattened seventh.

The Dorian mode can be applied to many different styles of music. In rock, Eric Clapton uses this mode in the classic "Cocaine". There are numerous examples of this mode used in popular music as well as jazz. As you progress with lead guitar and learn guitar scales, it will get easier to identify the different sounding modes and scales, and how they effect the feel or mood of the music.

The Dorian mode is often played over minor chords or seventh chords. Soloing over seventh chords tend to sound good because four out of the seven notes are included in the mode, making it difficult to hit a "wrong" note.

As you learn guitar scales and modes, keep an eye out for the Dorian mode. Using this mode will take your pentatonic solos to new heights giving them a more colourful and diverse sound. Without a doubt, you will be truly amazed at what the addition of just two notes to the minor pentatonic scale can really do for your guitar solos.




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