Latin music and Dorian mode?

[danonearth]

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I’ve been experimenting with Oye Como Va (the original Tito Puente version, but the Santana one is fine too…) and I just had a couple questions about the progression and use of the II (second) in Latin music[/size][/font][/color]

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I find it sounds best when I think of the II (so the A, as it is in the key of G) as the ‘tonic’ of sorts (which it seems to be in the song) and solo from there… I guess that would mean I might actually be playing in Dorian mode, so I guess my question could be - is it common to play in Dorian mode in Latin music? Especially since it uses the II (second) so heavily…[/size][/font][/color]

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Thanks![/size][/font][/color]

[Steve Woodcock]

Oye Como Va is a modal tune in A dorian. In a setting like this don't think of the A-7 as being 'chord ii of the key' as clearly it is functioning as the tonic chord here (as your ear is already telling you).

Latin music is characterised by [i]rhythm[/i] rather than a proclivity to any particular scale or chord progression, so as per any other style let the harmony be your guide. Most of this tune consists of just two chords, A-7 and D9, so the obvious 'in' sounding scale choices would be A dorian and D mixolydian respectively.

[danonearth]

Thanks, Steve

I agree about the unmistakable rhythm of Latin music... I'm curious though - do you think that a lot of it uses the Dorian mode (based on the II)? I've just always wondered why it seems that the 'II' is more prevalent in Latin music than in other genres?

Thanks!

cheers,
Dan

Edited May 16, 2017 by danonearth

[Bilbo]

'Latin' is a massive genre or set of genres. The modes used are generally the same as with all Western music's. I.e. Diatonic.

[MuddBass]

You may find this interesting

http://www.patriciajulien.com/non-functional-harmony-patricia-julien.pdf

[Ceebass]

[quote name='five-string.co.uk' timestamp='1495050022' post='3300919'] You may find this interesting http://www.patriciajulien.com/non-functional-harmony-patricia-julien.pdf [/quote]

This is a great article, thanks!

[danonearth]

[quote name='five-string.co.uk' timestamp='1495050022' post='3300919']
You may find this interesting

[url="http://www.patriciajulien.com/non-functional-harmony-patricia-julien.pdf"]http://www.patriciaj...icia-julien.pdf[/url]
[/quote]

Thanks, five-strings...

I also found a simpler one for me to understand... http://www.riddleworks.com/modalharm3.html

...and your own PDF's are great too!

Thanks again!

cheers,
Dan