Here is just a bit of music theory to start the day - The Dorian mode – what is it? Well it is a scale or rather it is a mode based on a scale – let me explain further. Lets take the easiest of scales C major which as you know is C D E F G A B C. The D Dorian mode contains all the notes of the C major scale but starts on D  -  e.g.  D E F G A B C D. Another example would be the G Dorian mode. This would be all the notes of the F major scale starting on G -  e.g.  G A Bb C D E F G. Do you get the idea now?

The Dorian mode is symmetric in its pattern of tones going up or down. it is made up of  a whole step, a half step, a whole step, a whole step, a whole step, a half step and a whole step. You could also say it is a Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Tone , Semitone, Tone.

The sound of the Dorian mode is brighter than the natural minor scale and is used quite frequently in solos.

How useful is it ? – Well it makes more sense when you have a least two chords. For example if you were going from Dm7 to G7 – the B in the G7 implies a Dorian mode, because in Dm the B would be Bb.

Try doing some solos over these chords using the Dorian mode.