explore the dorian mode on guitar in 3 simple steps

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Exploring The Dorian Mode on GuitarDorian is like most other scales - it has it's own flavour and can be used in both solos and chord progressions.

This lesson will not only show you the essential patterns and theory for playing Dorian, but you'll also learn, throughthe aid of ear training audio and backing tracks, when it sounds good to use.

Before you start with the presentation below, make sure you have a basic knowledge of the major scale (as Dorian isone of its modes).

So this is not for beginners, but I've tried to break it down as simplistically as possible. A lot of this is about ear training,so you rely less on charts to tell you what to play...

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Basic Dorian Mode Theory

First, get to know the intervals of Dorian. These are the building blocks that give Dorian its unique sound.

As a minor scale (1 b3 5), it's the major 6th (6) interval that gives it its special quality. So when you correspond the root(1) of the scale with the minor chord you're playing over (e.g. D Dorian over Dm) and emphasise that major 6th, you'll

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Explore the Dorian Mode on Guitar in 3 Simple Steps http://www.fretjam.com/dorian-mode-guitar.html

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instantly hear Dorian's colour...

Hear the 6th being held over a minor chord

Dorian Patterns

Next, the roadmap. This shows us how the intervals of Dorian appear on the guitar fretboard. Let's start with two mainpatterns - one built around an E string root, the other around an A string root.

By using these E and A string reference points, you'll be able to locate them based around familiar chord shapes in thesame position, such as the E and A form barre chords.

E string root pattern A string root pattern

For those who can stretch a bit more, also try these three-notes-per-string patterns. Notice how we simply extend theabove patterns to cover more frets...

E string root pattern


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A string root pattern

As Dorian is the 2nd mode of the major scale, you can also use your knowledge of the major scale's patterns to covermore of the fretboard. To do this, simply visualise your major scale root one whole step (fret) down from the Dorianroot. For example, D Dorian uses the same notes as C major. A Dorian uses the same notes as G major.


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This way, you only have to spend time learning one scale (the major scale) across the entire fretboard and you'llautomatically know its seven modes starting from their related major scale degrees (e.g. 2nd mode Dorian's root is themajor scale's 2nd note).

Playing Dorian Over Chords

To begin with, have a play around with the scale over the D minor chord track below. Try targeting (lead up to,emphasise) different notes in the scale, such as the minor 3rd (b3), major 2nd (2) and major 6th (6). These are the"colour tones" of the scale.

Tip: remember that where there's Dorian, there's also minor pentatonic and the blues minor scale. Try mixing yourDorian phrases/licks with minor pentatonic.

Just roam the scale freely and intuitively, listen closely and get an ear for its sound.

Dm chord track (right click and "save as" to download)

Next, try moving root positions. Dorian works over pretty much any occurrence of a minor chord. So let's say we hadtwo minor chords played in succession. You could play Dorian over the first chord and then move your Dorian pattern tothe root of the second minor chord. Example...

Abm Dorian > Bm Dorian

So here we'd position the first Dorian pattern on Ab. When the chord changes to Bm, we simply move the pattern upthree frets so our root is on B. Click the tab to hear the example...

Download the backing track


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As mentioned in the video, another example of using Dorian is over a minor iv chord.

This means if our tonic chord/key was C major, Fm would be our iv chord. C major (and of course C major pentatonic)would be a natural choice over Cmaj, whereas F Dorian would be a natural choice over Fm. You can visualise the twopatterns for this I - iv relationship conveniently at the same fret...

Download the backing track

So, in short, Dorian will work over pretty much any instance of a minor chord. Remember that!

Dorian Chord Progressions

Dorian also has a modal function, which basically means we can use one Dorian root pattern over a sequence ofrelated chords. We might call these "Dorian chord progressions".

Although composers typically do not set out to write modal music (as this would be creatively limiting), modalsequences often naturally occur in music simply because they sound good and meaningful melody/harmony can beeasily extracted from them. Dorian has a unique attraction, because of its rather cold and distant quality.

The "center" of any Dorian based progression can be identified as the ii chord in major scale harmony (hence, 2ndmode). This is because if we build a chord on the major scale's 2nd degree, we get a minor triad with a major 6th.


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Therefore, I find it easiest to label the "Dorian chord" as the ii chord. In C major, that would be Dm. In F major, Gm. In Amajor, Bm. So the ii chord always exists one whole step (fret) from the I of its parent major scale (1 w 2).

Confused? The best way to understand is to hear it! Here are some common Dorian progressions with backing tracksfor you to practice with.

ii - V

A movement relative to the ii and V of the major scale. Example: Pink Floyd - Great Gig in the Sky (starting from 1:06)

See the table below for this movement in two different keys...

Parent Scale Mode ii V Track

C major D DorianDmDm7

GmajG7

Download

G major A DorianAmAm7

DmajD7

Download

ii - IV - V

A common extension of the ii V movement. Example: Mansun - She Makes My Nose Bleed.

Parent Scale Mode ii IV V Track


FmajFmaj7

GmajG7

Download


CmajCmaj7

DmajD7

Download

ii - I - V

Another variation on ii V. Example: Alice in Chains - Down in a Hole.

Parent Scale Mode ii I V Track


CmajCmaj7

GmajG7

Download


GmajGmaj7

DmajD7

Download

ii - iii - ii - V


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You'll often hear that whole step minor chord movement between the ii and iii chord.

Tip: be careful over that iii chord. Try to avoid, or at least don't hang around on Dorian's b3 over this chord. You'll hearwhy if you try it. There's a reason for this which I won't bore you with right now!

Parent Scale Mode ii iii V Track


EmEm7

GmajG7

Download


BmBm7

DmajD7

Download

ii - iii - V(11)

Similar to the previous movement, but this time the V chord is typically extended to an 11th chord. Has a kind ofjazzy/soulful feel to it. Example: Doves - Black and White Town.

Parent Scale Mode ii iii V(11) Track


EmEm7

G11 Download


BmBm7

D11 Download

ii - iii - IV - iii

Example: the intro to Al Green's Let's Stay Together.

Parent Scale Mode ii iii IV Track


EmEm7

FmajFmaj7

Download


BmBm7

CmajCmaj7

Download

Hopefully, by spending time practicing over these progressions, you'll develop an ear for that "Dorian sound". You'll beready for it!

Remember also that sometimes you'll hear these movements being used over a fixed root/bass. For example, here'show that last D Dorian progression would sound with a fixed D bass - click to hear.

I hope you enjoyed exploring this beautiful scale!


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8 Comments

Joss One question, For Ionian, 2 and 6 plus triad (1,3,5) completes Ionian pentatonicFor Dorian, His triad is, 1,b3,5, but, plus which other numbers forms Dorian pentatonic?thanks, great job!

Mike Beatham Mod

I would be sure to use the major 6th as this is Dorian's color tone. So the full Dorian pentatonic would be 1 b3 4 5 6.

miko

This is exactly what I needed. Thank you. Hoping you will have something similar for mixolidian too some day.

Dick Spindler

Mike, great explanation. Quick question, can I play the C major scale over a D minor chord?

Mike Beatham Mod

You can indeed. Doing so will give that chord a Dorian flavour, since D corresponds to the root of C major's 2nd mode,Dorian. In other words, your C major scale will no longer sound like C major because the Dm chord has shifted its tonalcenter to D.

Try playing C major over the Dm chord track on this page to hear what I mean.

C major will work over the following chords:

Cmaj - Dm - Em - Fmaj - Gmaj - Am - Bdim

The reason this works is because all these chords use notes from the C major scale. They are all harmonizations ofdifferent parts of the C major scale, in other words.

Hope that helps!

Dick Spindler Playing what sounds good is, of course, most important and creative, but I really appreciate your explanationson the "why" it sounds good and works and knowing when to use the modes. Keep the lessons coming, Mike.

Daniel Thompson

Wow this lesson just gave me an ahha! moment. I Totally got lost in the Dorian scale with the D minor key backing track. Ithink I was soloing for the first time just by feeling! Thanks so much. I've been through the Ionian and Dorian modes, can't waitto check out your lessons on the others!

Mike Beatham Mod

That's awesome, I'm glad the track was able to help you explore the scale in such a way.

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explore the dorian mode on guitar in 3 simple steps

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