Smooth Santana Mode?

[alex_hwmhs]

Gday

 

Is there a certain mode which Carlos Santana used in Smooth?

 

Thanks

 

Alex

[Joe Merlino]

I don't know about that song per se, but a good deal of his stuff is natural minor (aolean mode) mixed with blues scales.

[gtrmaestro]

He also favors the Dorian mode. Don't know about that song though............

[Mr.Bates]

on smooth he uses pentatonic & natural minor (aeolian) and sometimes harmonic minor.

[gennation]

I know Carlos plays a minor type scale without a 6th a LOT. Like

 

1 2 b3 4 5 b7 1

 

This way it sounds like it could be a Aeolean OR a Dorian scale, since the 6th is the determining factor. Try it. It also gives a little space within a minor sounding scale.

[TheBlueGuy]

Carlos starts the intro with the A Aeolian mode and sticks with till the last few notes, where he slips in a G#, making a change to A harmonic minor, effectively.

[MacBradley]

 

Originally posted by TheBlueGuy Carlos starts the intro with the A Aeolian mode and sticks with till the last few notes, where he slips in a G#, making a change to A harmonic minor, effectively.

 

 

True I remember a few runs in this being in A harmonic minor, cool guitar work on that song acually.