The Dorian Mode

The Dorian mode is the second mode of the major scale. In the key of C, it's: D,E,F,G,A,B,C,D.

Think of it as a C major scale starting on the second step. The only thing that changes are the resolution points of the scale. In the scale above (D Dorian), you'll notice it has the same notes a C major, so why not call it C major? Easy. Scales are all about tension and resolution. The 1,3, and 5 of a scale are the same notes that make of the tonic chord in that key, so they sound stable and they are good notes on which to start and end your melodic lines. In the example above (D Dorian), even though the notes are identical to the key of C, the note C is not a very stable note. The stable notes in D Dorian are the 1,3 and 5 of that scale or D,F and A. Not C,E and G as it was with the C major scale.

We're going to learn all of our modes starting on the note C, so we have to find out which key gives us the note C as the 2nd scale degree. The answer is Bb Major: Bb,C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb. Notice that C is the 2 here. C Dorian is the second mode of the key of Bb just like D Dorian is the second mode of the key of C.

You could also think of it this way: Dorian =  b3 and b7.
To make any major scale a Dorian scale, lower the 3rd and 7th degrees.
C Major= C,D,E,F,G,A,B
C Dorian=C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb,C (Notice the b3 and b7)

So your resolution points will be C,Eb and G. or the 1,b3 and 5. Those notes played together make a C minor chord. If you add the 7th (Bb), you get a C minor 7 chord (1,b3,5,b7).

Let's build chord progression using the primary chords (major chords) of the Bb major scale :
Bb,C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb

Eb- the IV and F- the V.

Those will be the triads we use to create our C Dorian chord progression.

If we use a C for the bass note for all chords we'll really get the sound of the mode (in this case Dorian) in our ears. Improvise over this using the C Dorian mode (C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb,C) Here's the progression (one measure each):

Eb and F triads over a C bass line (the Dorian mode descending)



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