Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Funky Dorian Groove + Swing rhythm strum pattern for your right hand – Guitar Lesson – EP611

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a funky rhythm and lead using the notes from the Dorian Scale, plus a shuffle strum pattern that is used throughout for the right hand.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walkthrough

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  3. Michael K says

    Ha ha, was waiting for the drop today. Started playing it right away and it’s amazing how you can play this so gently without excessive string noise. I have to tone down my aggressive attack on the strings to the point that it feels like I’m not moving at all. I like the bass line in this one how the rhythm locks in with the bass.

  7. Mike R says

    Really nice rhythm and lead groove. I will spend a lot of time playing around with this. Enjoy how you mix up major and minor chords rather than just playing them straight for the key. I think it adds a lot of character to play major lV chord with the minor root chord. You do it in reverse a lot also . I can really use the rhythm exercise. Watching how your holding the pick so I have turned mine a little and it does seem to help.

  9. Harry B says

    Being a self-taught guitar player all my life I had no idea just how little I knew about musical theory until I discovered ActiveMelody, Brian. Before getting on to your website you might just have well have been talking Ancient Greek to me to have presented a lesson on the “Dorian” mode because I had no idea what modes were, let alone one called Dorian.

    For what it might be worth to other beginners such as I was a good many years ago, I have studied Lesson 375 on Modes (“The Ultimate Explanation” as you call it) quite a few times since being an ActiveMelody member. While I am still no expert on theory, with over 600 lessons, you have expanded the horizons for us self-taught payers which we greatly appreciate. Thanks so much.

  11. Daniel H says

    Brian, this lesson felt like a refreshing change of style. I appreciate the diversity you bring in your lessons. It was nice to get minor and embrace the Dorian sound. I never tire of your lessons…always something new (or something I forgot lol).

  18. Mike D says

    Great lesson Brian…. Helped me with right & left hand sync. Been playing guitar since I was a young lad, (69 now), I have a much better understanding of music theory and making great new sounds on my guitar since I found active melody. Thank you Thank you, Brian.

      • michael f says

        ok this is where I get a bit confused when you describe this in terms of 1,4,5 in Am. .I want to make sense of the chords here in terms of its major. scale. So A Dorian scale is the second mode of the G major scale. . And D is the 5 chord of G major. So when the chord changes to D major, I am now playing in D mixolydian scale, the fifth mode of G major. Wow, I’m playing the chord changes!!. So far so good. This also could be describe as a 2minor 5 major in the key of G right? Now add the E7, the 5 chord in Aminor as you say, but isn’t it also the relative minor of G major (sixth mode, Aolian, or natural minor). That scale doesn’t work over that chord at all. Can anyone explain that E7 chord in terms of theory that makes sense of it in terms of the G major scale?

  25. David S says

    So I’m not clear on when to use the Dorian mode. You said it was because the chord progression had a D major, which contains an F#, which is a note in the A Dorian mode. So, what if the chord progression contained a Bm (which also has an F# as a chord tone), would A Dorian work there too? How doI know when to use this Dorian stuff?

  26. David488 says

    I love seeing that guitar. This lesson is brilliant taking us on a cool rhythm experience along with the Dorian. Rhythm playing is a huge skill that is often overlooked—great work Brian. Still waiting for you to drop a banjo lesson on us.

  28. Paul L says

    I really like the rhythm and bass line. I’m working on learning the bass guitar this track sounds simple but simple isn’t always easy. Any suggestions on how I can tab the bass out?

  31. Mark H says

    This one is right up my street on many different levels. I mean in particular groove, voicings, theory, picking hand, fretting hand, and so on.

    It’s also easily adaptable to finger style lead + rhythm which is a big plus for me.

    I’ve added it to what I’ve labeled my “Top Hits” AM collection so I can jump back into it easily down the road. Thank you!

  33. Tremelow says

    I didn’t really have the Dorian scale on my top priority list of things to learn, but definitely rhythm and strumming/right hand technique. This song is so contagious, it got my foot stomping before I knew it was happening. If that ain’t a sign (or excuse) to move this lesson ahead of any other EP or ML on my (long!) list, then I don’t know what is. Fantastic lesson, Brian. Thanks again!

  35. Georg B says

    Hello Brian,

    I found an old lesson of yours on YouTube that is simply excellent. However, I can’t find it on your website because I don’t know what number or label it has. On YouTube it has the URL

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHzmIWB0P00

    The description on YouTube is:

    “Play the chord changes with just ONE scale! (using modes) – How Modes work. Guitar Lesson VG31”

    What episode number does the lesson have on your website?

    Many thanks in advance,

    Georg

  36. KT says

    Enjoyed listening to this jewel of well executed dorian jam. Definitely you make it look easy.
    I will definitely be spicing up my jam using Dorian scales.

  43. John B says

    Hi Brian,
    Great lesson!
    You always have a great tone, but I know most of that comes from the player and not the pick and strings.
    Out of curiosity, what type of pick do you use? Also, the brand and gauge of strings.
    Thanks!

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