In this lesson we are going to take a quick look at the Dorian mode.In the future i may add more to this page or create a part 2.But for now lets start with some basic information.The Dorian mode is the 2nd mode of the Major scale.To find the Dorian mode just start on the 2nd note of any Major scales. For example if we look at the G Major scale we will find the notes G A B C D E F# G.Now by starting on the 2nd note of that scale weŽll get A B C D E F# G A.So by shifting the tonal center from G to A we get A Dorian.The Dorian mode is also similar to the natural minor,exept for the raised 6th.So if you raise the 6th in any natural minor scale youŽll have the dorian.The mode we are covering in this lesson is a more sad sounding mode because for the minor 3rd.
||--------------------------|--------------------5----|| ||--------------------------|-----------5--7--8-------|| ||--------------------------|--4--5--7----------------|| ||-----------------4--5--7--|-------------------------|| ||-----------5--7-----------|-------------------------|| ||--5--7--8-----------------|-------------------------||Here it is again starting an octave higher.
E||--------------------------------|| B||----------------------------10--|| G||-----------------9--11--12------|| D||------9--10--12-----------------|| A||--12----------------------------|| E||--------------------------------||And here is one more time.
E||----------------------------------|------------------14--15--17----|| B||----------------------------------|----------15--17----------------|| G||------------------------------14--|--16--17------------------------|| D||------------------14--16--17------|--------------------------------|| A||------14--15--17------------------|--------------------------------|| E||--17------------------------------|--------------------------------||After learning this mode up and down the fretboard itŽs time for some jamming.I will show you an example and then you can try it out over the backing track and maybe even figure out a few new cool ideas on your own. Here is the example.
E||--------------------||----------------5----|---------------------|
B||----------------5-7-||---8-----------------|--7-----5------------|
G||--------------------||*--------------------|---------------7-----|
D||--------------------||*--------------------|---------------------|
A||--------------------||---------------------|---------------------|
E||--------------------||---------------------|---------------------|
---------------------|---------------------|---------------5----|
--5------------------|----------------5--7-|--8-----------------|
---------------------|---------------------|--------------------|
---------7--7--------|---------------------|--------------------|
---------------------|---------------------|--------------------|
---------------------|---------------------|--------------------|
--7-----5------------|--5-----------------|-------------------||
---------------8-----|--------------------|-------------------||
---------------------|--------------------|------------------*||
---------------------|--------------------|------------------*||
---------------------|--------------------|-------------------||
---------------------|--------------------|-------------------||
And here is another example,using chords.
E||----------------------------------------|
B||--10--10--10--10--10--8---8---8---7--7--|
G||--9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---7--7--|
D||--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--7--7--|
A||----------------------------------------|
E||----------------------------------------|
-----------------------------------------|
--10--10--10--10--10--8---8---8---7--7---|
--9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---7--7---|
--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--7--7---|
-----------------------------------------|
-----------------------------------------|
-----------------------------------------|
--10--10--10--10--10--8---8---8---7--7---|
--9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---7--7---|
--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--7--7---|
-----------------------------------------|
-----------------------------------------|
-----------------------------------------||
--10--10--10--10--10--8---8---8---7--7---||
--9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---7--7---||
--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--7--7---||
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Now listen to the backing track,and see what you can do.
Try to learn this mode in every key and everywhere on the guitar.The dorian mode works very well over regular minor chords and min 7th chords..As with with all scales and modes,the more you play with them the more youŽll get out of them.Try to record a few progression yourself and play this mode over them.I will probably write more about this later,so be sure to look for an updated version or a part 2.Keep learning and playing and thanks for checking out my site.