Modal Jam Tracks – A Dorian Mode

When my guitar students are working on scale patterns and leads using the major scale modes, backing tracks really help them learn the character of each mode. The following backing track should help you get comfortable with the sound of the Dorian mode, with more modal jam tracks to come.

The subject of modes can be confusing to guitarists. Simply put, a mode is a scale whose pattern is derived from another scale. The Dorian mode is created by treating the 2nd note of a major scale as the starting point a new scale. The new scale(mode) will share all the same notes as its ‘parent’ scale but a different tonality is created by emphasizing this new root.

In the following jam track we are treating the 2nd note of the G major scale as the root, giving us the A Dorian mode. By placing both chords in the jam track over a repeating A bass note, we continually get reinforcement that ‘A’ is the true root note for our improvising. Keep in mind that any patterns you know of the G major scale will work for your leads, but the A note will sound like ‘home’.

Or, just forget all of the above and jam out!!

Dorian Jam Track – Key of A

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Download Jam Track (Right click – Save As)

Here are some scale patterns to experiment with:
And here are the two chords are used in the rhythm guitar:

Modes for guitar players will get a full explanation in an upcoming seminar on GuitarTeacher.com.