Guthrie Govan Discussion

[blubberboy]

Apologies for this mind-numbingly stupid post but if you don't ask you don't get...

I've been struggling with the concept of modes for around a year and I guess for me it all comes down to one simple question:

If I want to solo over a song in the key of C and I want a Dorian feel to my playing do I use C Dorian or D Dorian?

(My thinking is that D Dorian mode gives me all the right notes but without the Dorian inflections I'm looking for, while C Dorian gives me that Dorian feel but effectively means I'm playing in a different key to that of the song - B flat instead of C).

Any answers appreciated!

BB

[blubberboy]

I think I've kind of answered my own question; I guess what's modal is the chord progression rather than the solo. So soloing over it I can either stick to the major scale or play different modal shapes depending on each chord - e.g. C Ionian over C, A Aeolian over Am, G Mixolydian over G or G7, etc.

Funny how you can grasp some very complex concepts in life while other things floor you completely!