Description
In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to convert the minor pentatonic scale into Dorian mode and how to use it when jamming. You’ll also learn how to change keys in the middle of the solo.
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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Early riser on this one.Wasn’t expecting that.That’s good though cause I’m ready for anything new on Friday Thanks for the work you put into what you do😊
How cool is that? Super sophisticated sounds!
Sounds great Brian! This will be good exercise to get my right hand moving again.
This one made me feel like I was in New Orleans. As usual I love it! Thanks Brian
This one made me feel like I was back home in New Orleans. As usual I love it! Thanks Brian
What a practical way of incorporating the Dorian sounds in improvisation.
Some Santana vibes on this one.
Man do I love Fridays! Thanks for sharing your sound settings Brian, you have such an awesome sound. Really dig this lesson too!
From one Brian to another, this is maybe my favorite lesson you’ve posted so far. Curious, when you recorded the jam track for this one, what came first? The lead inspired the jam track, or the jam track inspire the lead?
I knew I wanted something with a key change – so I wrote the jam track with that change first, then went back and figured out a lead.
I’ve always been a bit of a cowboy rhythm player and I have to slow all this stuff down to the 40% mode on the tab thingy before I get it right however since joining the group my ability to improvise and play lead has improved massively, at least my mates are impressed, normally playing at the 40% speed makes everything sound a bit weird until I can get up to speed, this tune however sounds awesome at this slow speed, very swampy.
Great lesson! With the dorian mode and adding in harmonic minor, you can really get that latin sound mixed into minor blues.
Brian, within this wonderful lesson you have given us stations-as in places to get off and explore. ( I cannot play lead so I was excited at the sound that I thought that I could potentially create). When you arrived at the first introduction of the Dorian notes it occurred to me that I could stop there and work with what you had notated as well as just playing around in that area over the Bm chord ( or move to Am, or Dm and use the same patterns).
So many licks and valuable runs that can be used in other ways. A great extension to what we have been working with.
Thanks again for your generosity of spirit.
This is a MUST learn. Can’t wait! Thanks Brian! 🥸🎸🥸
Very cool lesson, Brian. That groovy bass line riff you explain at 4:52 is the same as in EP235, that I practice all the time. Great!!
Larry
Hah I guess you’re right. I need to learn some new bass lines!
Sorry, Brian, I didn’t express that well. I meant the “fun little vamp” you explain at 4:52 (going from Bm7 to E7). Same sort of recurring vamp going on in EP235 (going from Am7 to D7). Cool!!
Larry
Brian- From a compositional perspective, why did you choose to change key to C#m from the original Bm? Is there a “rule of thumb” or theory based reason or you simply liked the way it sounded?
No rule on that – it could have been any key really. It’s common to go up a half step or a whole step (which is the one I did)… but could have went anywhere
I have a hard time not losing the pick with this funky ritme….. any suggestions ?
Super glue?
I bought some “max grip” Dunlop picks (.88). You won’t drop these. Not as good as super glue; however.
you and me both.
I got some pick hold stuff called “gorilla snot”, helps hold pick.
I love love love that guitar! Where did you say you got it from again? I remember you introducing it a while back, but can’t remember which lesson.
And a fantastic lesson as well… I look forward to diving into this one!
It’s a Wide Sky – I ordered it back at the beginning of the pandemic. Took a year or so to make and ship it. A guy named Patch builds them in Hawaii.
I like when you revist topics Brian, like Dorian. It takes me 2 or 3 times before I remember and it sinks in. Thanks!
Thanks Brin, this was a great lesson on how to blend the Dorian mode in with the minor Pentatonic scale. Very cool. I’ll be using this a lot, I’m sure.
Sorry, I just noticed I misspelled your name Brian. I tried to correct it but can’t find a way to. Sorry.
Terrific beat and lots of fun tp play. Very well explained in every aspect.
It is because I do not see patterns, which Brian often refers to, I see notes instead and how those notes relate to the chord being played. The Bminor to E 7th vamp contain the only two notes needed to define a chord. The 3rd and the 7th. B minor’s A note ( 7th fret D string) is A, the 7th of B minor and D next to it on the G string in the minor third of B. G# is the major 3rd E7th and D the minor 7th. Knowing this, in my opinion, makes more sense when jamming over a track allowing a player to bend into a minor 7th or whatever sound they are conveying. I play keys as well and theory is never taught with patterns. You have to know the notes and how they relate to the chords.
The Dorian notes are the added 2nd and 6th of the B minor scale. That Major sound is coming from G# the added 6th. It is the Major 7th of A which is Dorian’s parent scale. I do not mean to steal Brian’s thunder. I think he does a fine job, which is why I am a subscriber.
As someone who does not read music, I would find it helpful if you counted out the rhythm at some point. ie. 1 e & a 2 ….. I find I am often repeating over and over again the licks to grasp the beats.
This is so much fun to play along with! This has got some serious Phish vibes which I absolutely love. Not sure of your opinion on the band but I love them and this is sounding like the stuff the do all the time. Thank you very much for this one and all of them. Just went back to EP065. That one is amazing as well. Thanks Brian!
Thanks Brian 👍
Grazie Brian, very cool and groovy sound!
Fantastic! Some neat jazz sounds. Can’t wait to soak this one in.
Super Lesson super sound. Jazz/Bluesy mood!
I think it will take me more than a week to learn the lesson but it’s worthwhile!
Thanks Brian.
Brian, I absolutely love this jam. It is so much fun. This is one of my all time favorites from the site. So glad we have you as a teacher.
Have been a member for a couple years now. First time comment. Really loved this lesson. Kept playing and playing it, until I got it down. Then, couldn’t stop playing it. Is “hypnotic”. Hope you do more of the Dorian mode, Brian, or similar.
Couldn’t have phrased it better. Me too. What a groove. Looking forward to my vacation next week with plenty of time in the woodshed… 🙂
Love this vibe Brian – really great sound and great knowledge gems in this one!
I have just found the speed training option in the sound slice tab player.
Select the whole thing as a loop, then select “speed training” from the drop down speed menu (where the 100% is showing).
It plays at 70% 3 times then picks up 10% for the next 3 times until it gets to 100% and my fingers fall off!
Fab for making progress!
Thanks – I didn’t realise you could do that – Cheers
Another great lesson and lovin’ that guitar & tone. You just keep delivering, Brian! Thanks.
Having taken seriously your earlier suggestion to learn the major scale at every position I recognized that the Dorian notes you were playing for B minor were the same as the A major scale in the “D” position. I remember another lesson where the Dorian notes for E minor were the D major scale. I’m beginning to see a pattern.
I love this jam band stuff. Can you do some more jam band lessons using some other modes? I love how you used the simple pattern on the first four strings to create such cool sounds! You made it very approachable using the simple pattern on the first four strings. Thanks.
Hi Brian
Was wondering if at the beginning we could also call it a B dorian …
6th fret on 4th string ?
Also when you talk about a minor key is it always assumed to be the aeolian, natural minor ?
Thanks in advance.
Daniele
Guten Tag Brian.
Thank you for your wonderful lesson. Greetings from Stuttgart, Germany. Uli
Brian, this is so good. Thanks for these awesome weekly doses of great music!
Fabulous!
What a class act.!
Great lesson
Thanks Brian
Enjoyed this Brian, love the Dorian sound. Your 100% speed is killer, may take me a lifetime to get there. I’ll settle for 85%.
Awesome!!! Thanks, Just wish you could do a part two! Love Dorian now!
Still trying to play this one at full speed — it’s great practice!
Great lesson & vibe in dorian, readily jell with that. Thanks Brian
Yet another perfect lesson! On first listen I thought it sounds awesome but a bit on the difficult side. However, it’s really clicking with me and I’m nearly there with it already! Thanks Brian!
Just fantastic, Brian, thank you. Interesting how that Dorain mode makes that Major D scale shape at that position.
I don’t comment much however I want you to know how much I appreciate your explanations and helping me to expand my playing knowledge. When you break it down it really helps.
Thanks so much.
Brian
Is this type of playing what is called ‘modal’ playing?
My understanding is that modal playing uses different modes in different keyes rather that chord changes, as Miles Davis does in something like ‘Milestones’.
Am I on the right track?
Doug
Cool groove.
Dorian mode is bringing color to my world. Especially love your guitar. That top is enchanting,