This jam track has various parts and the main rhythm is a low riff pointing to E minor tonality. The power/5th chords utilized are Bb, A, G, and Em. It has the chords ringing out on the Em and G chords. And finally the bridge section chords are B, C, and A
It’s a cool jam that allows different playing dynamics and intensity through the various parts of the jam. Being that it is a rocker and that the main riff points toward minor tonality you can explore various minor devices over the track.
Because it’s a rocker and utilizes a lot of power chords we can instantly consider using E Minor Pentatonic & Blues scales as one soloing option over all the chords:
E Minor Pentatonic & Blues = E, G, A, Bb, B, D
In this jam both Natural Minor and The Dorian modes sound good. So I suggest trying both and see which one you like the sound of best. The two are very similar modes and there is only one note difference between Dorian and Aeolian, the 6th interval:
Aeolian Mode = 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
Dorian Mode = 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7
Try Natural Minor, (Aeolian Mode), to exude a sad, modern, and dark sound. The Aeolian Mode is a seven-note scale often used in blues, rock, jazz, and many other musical genres. It is also called Natural Minor or Pure Minor. Aeolian is considered a minor mode and is always the 6th mode in any major key. Aeolian produces a sad, dark, and mournful sound that is different than minor pentatonic and Dorian.
The Dorian Mode is a seven-note scale often used in blues, rock, and many other musical genres. Dorian is considered a minor mode and is always the 2nd mode in any major key. Dorian produces a mystical, minor sound that is a bit sweeter than Aeolian. There is only one note difference between Dorian and Aeolian – the 6th note interval as illustrated above.
Both Aeolian and Dorian scales sound great over minor chords. And, at times, you can also use both Aeolian and Dorian over all the chords in a minor key progression and in major key rock jams with power chords like this jam. So lets see how we can play both E Aeolian and E Dorian over this jam track.
If you are not familiar with Aeolian you can use the concept of major vs. relative minor to play major scales and just move the root. Every major key has a relative minor key that has exactly the same notes in it. You can use that to your advantage. The relative major of E minor is G major. E natural minor scales, (E Aeolian), have the exact same notes as G major scales:
E Aeolian = E, F#, G, A, B, C, D
G Major = G, A, B, C, D, E, F#
(Same notes – just emphasize the root of the mode, E.)
So if you know some major scales or just more familiar with major scales, play G major scales but start on and emphasize the E notes and it will then become E Aeolian. This is the crux of playing in the modes, shifting emphasis to the root of the mode. In this case, to the E notes.
We can do a similar conversion to play in E Dorian. Dorian is always the 2nd mode in any major key. So to play in E Dorian we have to ask what major scales 2nd note is an E note. The answer is D. D major has the same notes as E Dorian:
E Dorian = E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D
D Major = D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#
(Same notes – just emphasize the root of the mode, E.)
So try playing all your D Major scales but start on and emphasize the E notes and you will be playing in E Dorian. Keep resolving licks to those E notes to shift the tonal center of the D major scales to E. That will exude the minor sounds of the Dorian Mode.
Also try and mix Minor Pentatonic & the Modes listed above. You can create killer sounds going between five-note pentatonic scales and seven note diatonic scales. Get creative and try other avenues, as the power chord rockers are pretty wide open for creativity and improvisation. Enjoy and keep on rocking!