Blues in the key of D - backing track lesson.
This lesson focus on using the Dorian mode for blues soloing. The diagram below shows the D Dorian with added blue notes, the flat 5th.
Blues in D jam track
"Medium Tempo Blues"
Instructions: The D Dorian with added b5 can be used over the whole track. You can, however, include more scales, for example by using the D Minor Pentatonic over the I and/or V chords.
Take notice of the notes colored in light grey, which are the added b5 notes, or the "blue notes". These notes are mostly used as a passing note, meaning notes that you don't stay on for a longer time. The regular Dorian can be used instead for this expanded version, but the flat 5 note will add some extra blues flavor.
Jam track info
Instruments: Bass, drums and rhythm guitar Chords: D, G, A Tempo: 85 BPM
Next lesson N/A
Explanations
Scales - If you are used to play Minor and Major Pentatonic scales when improvising to blues music, you can probably recognize that many notes in the Dorian are also present in the Pentatonic scales. Dorian mode is an option for soling over blues and one advantage is that it will often sound well than used as a single scale over a whole track. Although taste can differ, Dorian will perhaps not sound perfect in combination will Texas and Chicago blues since it lacks a bit of the rawness, but instead with some softer blues expressions. The tables below show the relationship between Dorian add b5 and the pentatonic blues scales.
