Dorian Backing Tracks Playlist

I remember feeling strange about names like Dorian, Mixolydian and other mode names. They used to confuse me and make me feel lost and stupid sometimes, specially the first few years since I started studying about music theory and playing the guitar.

If you feel the same or if you have no clear idea about the music modes, let me tell you this fact. Modes are nothing but musical scales. Exactly like the major scale or the minor pentatonic. The only difference is that the latter two scales were used heavily in popular music. But they are actually music modes as well, they just got a cool easy name with time rather than the ancient names inspired or influenced by the Christian church in old times.

So to get right to the point about modes. Each mode is a unique scale with a unique taste. For example, you hear the minor pentatonic scale and his close relative the minor blues scale in almost all blues, RnB and jazz music. It is a scale that were used and helped shape those genres since they started and evolved through the time.

Dorian mode is the same. It’s another mode that is used in other genres or share some genres with the minor pentatonic. See the minor pentatonic is a scale that has 5 notes in it. The minor blues is a hexatonic which means it has 6 notes in it. actually the minor blues is exactly the same like the minor pentatonic with an added note in the middle between the 4th and the 5th notes. that is the blue note

Dorian mode sounds a bit more funky, minor pentatonic is more dark and sad, that is why it was associated with the blues since the start around 1920. With the times blues evolved and not only were focused on sad and sorrowful situations, but blues artists started a new trend of making fun of their problems and talk about it being sarcastic and ironic. So they started to introduce the major pentatonic in their songs. With time the blues evolved to many things like funk, RnB and others. So they started to play the Dorian mode which is in the middle in taste between the minor and the major sound.

If you look at the Dorian mode below in the scale chart you will see that it shares the minor 3rd with the minor pentatonic scale, but it also has a major 6th which is shared with the major scale. That unique structure gives the Dorian mode the unique Funky & Bluesy sound. You will hear the Dorian mode in all modern blues music, and definitely in Funk. Also it’s used in Latin music.

One of the most popular guitarists who use this mode extensively is Carlos Santana. Who is influenced by jazz musicians Like Miles Davis and others who included all modes in their music. You will also hear the Dorian mode in advanced guitarists who play instrumental rock like for example Joe Satriani, Vinnie Moore and Steve Vai. All those guitarists brought new sounds and introduced new ideas using the Dorian mode among all other modes.

In this playlist you can practice the Dorian mode in different keys.

Use the following points as a guide to get started and find your own way to improvisation

(This could be very helpful if it is your first time to explore the modes)

1- Start by playing the Dorian mode in one position (whatever feel comfortable to your hands on your guitar)

2- Use the scale charts included in each video or in the pdf.

3- It would be useful if you could print one scale chart and hang it in front of you. You could also use a website or a mobile app for that.

4- When you start yo play the scale (the mode) try to play slowly. Don’t rush to play all notes quickly. Try to make each note sound good.

5- Start by the root then move to the 2nd then to the 3rd note and so on. Focus with your ears on the taste you can play and add to your playing.

6- After your ears are familiar with the sound of the mode and your hands are familiar with the scale pattern you move to melody lines.

7- Try to come up with a phrases or a melody idea. Try the root with the 2nd and 3rd. 3 notes is a good start.

Hope you find this useful and remember to stick to one key first before you move on to explore and practice other keys.