Thinking In Dorian To Improvise Over A Blues

[Bingefeller]

I found a nice blues backing track online so decided to make a video of myself improvising over it.

The chords and scales I was thinking in are -

A7 = E Dorian / some G Blues.
D7 = A Dorian
F7 = F Dorian
E7#9 = G# Dorian

I think this goes to show that you can get some nice outside ideas (mostly over the E7#9 chord) with a simple Dorian, or even a pentatonic scale.

What do you guys think? How do you view a blues prog when you want to get a little out?

[Koss59]

Im interested to know why your thinking of another key's dorian mode when you could think over the actual chord your playing over and use mixolydian?
E dorian = A Mixolydian
A Dorian = D Mixolydian

Obviously the sounds are the same but to me it makes more sense to think A7 use A Mixolydian rather than E Dorian

[Bingefeller]

Im interested to know why your thinking of another key's dorian mode when you could think over the actual chord your playing over and use mixolydian?
E dorian = A Mixolydian
A Dorian = D Mixolydian

Obviously the sounds are the same but to me it makes more sense to think A7 use A Mixolydian rather than E Dorian

It simpler to think of it in Dorian IMO. Dorian is more pentatonic shaped and, as most players know the pentatonic, it simplifies things. Also, I find that if I'm thinking mixolydian that I stay in the 5th position. With Dorian I'm thinking beyond that and thinking about the pentatonic scales which make up the Dorian mode (eg Eminor pent, F#minor pent and B minor pent).

I also find thinking Dorian to go outside is,for me, much easier.

[rdmf48]

I've been having a go over this chord sequence.
How about the following :

A7 = A Mixolydian
D7 = A Dorian
F7 = A Blues
E7#9 = D Blues

[Bingefeller]

I've been having a go over this chord sequence.
How about the following :

A7 = A Mixolydian
D7 = A Dorian
F7 = A Blues
E7#9 = D Blues

Yes, that would probably work fine. I see your thinking on the F7 and E7 - using the blues scale from the 3rd degree of the chord.

[beed84]

A7 - Blues/maj/min pent
D7 - D diminished
F7 - F hindu Pentatonic (F pent w/3rd)
E7#9 - E altered/super locrian pent(A pent w/flat 1st)

[rdmf48]

Yes, that would probably work fine. I see your thinking on the F7 and E7 - using the blues scale from the 3rd degree of the chord.

Correct. You could obviously add in the Root Note of the Chord to each of the Blues Scales. Additionally, the only difference between A Mixolydian and A Dorian is the 3rd changing from C# to C.

[barney.]

A7=G lydian
D7=Aminor penta
F7= Cminor penta
E7#9 =Bminor penta

but at the end of the day its a blues so should we be thinking any of this...

[monquixote]

Am a right in thinking we are discussing if we should be playing E Dorian, A Mixolydian or G Lydian over an A7 chord?

Might I suggest a D Ionian or even get a bit fruity with a Db Locrian?

[barney.]

Am a right in thinking we are discussing if we should be playing E Dorian, A Mixolydian or G Lydian over an A7 chord?

yeah and its all the same notes..lol...i think its more a feel thing..