Hello, today we are looking at our Dorian scale, particularly this funky Backing track in G Dorian we have made. If you are unfamiliar with the theory behind modes you will have to do some digging, but you can still jam along using the scales illustrated below. In general, the Dorian scale has a Latin or Caribbean sort of vibe to it. As it pertains to the guitar, Carlos Santana is one of the champions of the Dorian sound. The mode really fits his whole vibe. Many Santanas songs use Dorian, including his smash hit “Oye Ye Como Va,” which is in A Dorian.
Every scale can be broken down into roughly 5-7 different patterns to encompass the entirety of the guitar neck. 5 patterns is a pretty smooth way to digest this type of info. Hopefully, you are already familiar with the 5 patterns of the pentatonic scale. Let’s look at the 5 patterns of the Dorian scale, using G as our key. G Dorian is actually the key of F, but that’s a theory lesson for another day. You can also play G pentatonic over a G Dorian progression. Notice how similar the Dorian scale is to the pentatonic scales? If you look closely you will see that each Dorian pattern has a pentatonic pattern inside it. Remember pentatonic is the 5-note version of a 7-note scale. If you are already familiar with the 5 pentatonic patterns, learning these shapes will be easier. Also, check out our backing tracks page for more modal jam tracks.
