By Craig Bassett

Learning jazz guitar scales can be a very daunting project. For the jazz newbie there seems to be an endless number of jazz scales that have to be learnt. It can be very overwhelming, and it can often be hard to even know where to start!

In this series of articles we'll take a look at some of the most important jazz guitar scales that you need to know. Mastering these scales will help you become more fluent and confident with your jazz guitar improvisation. So without any more delay, let's take a look at the first jazz guitar scale...

Jazz Guitar Scale #1: The Dorian Mode.

The Dorian Mode: Some Basic Theory...

Mastering this scale is vital for improvising in a jazz style. Unless you master it, you WILL struggle playing jazz. Yep...it's THAT important. It is hard for me to imagine a jazz song where I wouldn't need to use it!

The dorian mode has the following formula...

1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7

This formula tells us what we need to do to the major scale in order to create the dorian mode. Let's work out the notes of the D dorian mode to make things clearer...

Step 1:

Write down the notes of the D major scale. Doing this gives us these notes...

D E F# G A B C#

Step 2:

Flatten the third and seventh notes of the D major scale. We have to do this because the formula of the dorian more has a b3 and a b7. Flattening these notes gives us this...

D E F G A B C

These are the notes of the D dorian mode.

The Dorian Mode: Where To Use It...

The dorian mode works really well over minor 7th chords. So in our example above, we would use the D dorian mode over D minor 7th chords. The reason why the dorian mode works so well over minor 7th chords is because the formula for minor 7th chords is 1 b3 5 b7. Notice how these chord tones are also in the formula for the dorian mode?

To help you learn the dorian mode, here is a cool sounding four bar chord progression. I highly recommend recording it onto a tape or your computer. Your goal is to master soloing over it...

// Dmin7 / Dmin7 / Fmin7 / Fmin7 //

To improvise over this chord progression use D dorian for the first two bars, and F dorian for the last two bars. It can be quite challenging to switch between the two scales fluently. Especially if you recorded the chord progression at a really fast tempo. But that's what makes jazz fun!

By Lynne May

The Dorian Mode is the second mode of the Major Scale. It is a minor mode and differs from the natural minor scale only in that the 6th note in the Dorian Scale is sharp.

Construction of the Dorian Scale:

The Dorian Scale is based on the second note of the major scale. The pattern of whole and half steps is as follows:

W H W W W H W

If you follow this pattern, you will create a scale which begins on the second note of the major scale and has the same key signature as the major scale.

EXAMPLES

D Dorian--D E F G A B C D

A Dorian--A B C D E F# G A

***NOTE : There are 2 ways to think about the construction of the Dorian Scale:

1. Begin with the major scale of the same name and flat the 3rd and 7th notes. For example, D Dorian would be the D Major Scale with a flatted 3rd and flatted seventh.

2. Begin with the 2nd note of the "tonic" major scale and write a scale that has the same key signature as the tonic. For example, the D Dorian Scale is a scale beginning and ending on D with the key signature of C Major.

Using the Dorian Scale Mode

The Dorian Scale has a major 6th. This gives it a bright sound compared to the aolian and the phrygian modes, which contain the minor 6th making them sound darker.

The Dorian Scale is used in playing over minor seventh chords. The ii, iii, and vi chords in a Major chord progression are minor seventh chords.

One of the most common chord progressions for the Dorian Mode is the ii - V. If you listen to Carlos Santana, you have heard this use of the Dorian Mode. If you want to sound like Santana, try combining the Dorian Mode with the pentatonic minor scale.

It is ESSENTIAL to have a working knowledge of chord progressions in order to fully understand modal scales. You also need thorough familiarity with and the ability to play the major scales fluently.

If you need help with chord progressions, major scales, key signatures, or any other music theory issues, you will find absolutely free lessons on my website. Look in the "Guitar Lessons" and the "Music Theory" sections.