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Before understanding the Dorian mode, it is important to touch on the major scale or Ionian mode. The Dorian mode is derived from the major scale by simply starting on the second note and looping around, using the same steps or intervals. By doing this, we create a completely different set of sounding notes known as the Dorian mode. As you learn guitar scales you will likely use this mode to create great sounding guitar solos.

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 and modes you will come across the commonly used natural minor scale. The Dorian mode is very similar to the natural minor scale, with one important difference. The Dorian mode has a major sixth interval – the same as the major scale -compared to the flattened sixth of the natural minor scale. This one difference makes Dorian much brighter and happier sounding compared with the natural minor scale.

The Dorian mode is often said to have a “bluesy” sound when played on the guitar. When you learn guitar scales for the first time, no doubt you will encounter the minor pentatonic scale or the blues scale. If we add a major second and a major sixth to the minor pentatonic scale we create the Dorian mode. These two notes will add more flavour and diversity to your guitar solos, whilst maintaining the “bluesy” undertones from the common pentatonic notes.

The Dorian mode is used extensively in rock and jazz as well as many other genres of music. This is a favourite soloing mode of Carlos Santana as an example. Its also used by Eric Clapton in the classic;”Cocaine”. 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 are applied to different styles of 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 second major scale mode; Dorian. Using this mode will take your pentatonic solos up a level giving them a more diverse and colourful sound. 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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