what is the dorian scale good for
July 15, 2010 12:38 AM   Subscribe

how do you use dorian scales in jazz guitar?

my guitar friend was showing me the other day how to work the dorian scale over a 2-5-1 combination. how the dorian scale matches for improvisation as the 2 chord is played. so i am just wondering if anyone has similar tips regarding jazz guitar improvisation. what mode scales are useful in what situation?
posted by edtut to Media & Arts (5 answers total) 7 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: In major keys, the basic modes are:
1 Ionian (major)
2 Dorian (minor with a raised 6th)
3 Phrygian (minor with a lowered 2nd)
4 Lydian (major with a reaised 4th)
5 Myxolydian (major with a lowered 7th)
6 Aeolian ('natural' minor)
7 Locrian (minor with lowered 2nd and 5th)

You can often effectively sustitute by chord type to add a bit of colour outside the basic feel of the key:

Major: ionian, lydian or myxolydian
Minor: dorian, phrygian or aeolian
7: myxolydian
m7: dorian, phrygian or aeolian
M7: ionan or lydian
dim: locrian

etc...

for augmented chords, you can use a whole-tone scale, while dim 7ths need a tone-semitone or semitone-tone scale
posted by monkey closet at 4:24 AM on July 15, 2010


Oh, and don't forget pentatonics (2 main types tend to be most useful - 1-2-3(major or minor)-5-major6 or the bluesy 1-minor3-4-5-minor7) and blues scales. There are so many blues scale variants that's a whole thread in itself. Probably the easiest is the heptatonic you get by adding the sharpened 4th to the blues pentatonic above, but there are 7- 8- and 9-note variants of the blues scale, too...

Then there are the 'exotics'...
posted by monkey closet at 4:39 AM on July 15, 2010


how do you use dorian scales in jazz guitar?

It's always worth trying when you're in a minor key. For instance, if the song is in A minor (often Aeolian), trying playing A Dorian. Monkey closet put it very well: the major 6th adds "color." You could also alternate between A Dorian and A Aeolian. The major 6th sounds very "jazzy," and you can then create a feeling of resolution by switching to the minor 6th.
posted by Jaltcoh at 7:21 AM on July 15, 2010


what is the dorian scale good for[?]

Playing variations on the Carlos Santana secret chord progression.
posted by timeistight at 9:52 AM on July 15, 2010 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: good answers thanks, gives me a few things to look at..
posted by edtut at 7:33 PM on July 15, 2010


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