Introduction To: The Dorian Mode An

An Introduction To: The Dorian Mode Welcome to this lesson pack on the dorian mode. In this lesson we will be exploring dorian, and how to use it properly. Theres lots of misleading information out there on what modes are, and how to use them, so it seemed about time to clarify the proper use of dorian. The material for this lesson will be divided up between this PDF file, the backing track MP3s, and the video content in the lesson folder, which you will be referred to during the lesson. This session will be divided up into the following categories: Dorian explained Visualization and scale construction Scale fingerings Dorian and pentatonic Chord voicings Arpeggios Common usage

Dorian Explained The Dorian mode is the second mode of the major scale. A mode is formed when we start the major scale from any degree other than the root, and proceed up an octave, as demonstrated in the below diagram:

So, since the major scale contains 7 notes, there must be 7 different modes. Today we will just be exploring the dorian mode, but for more detailed information on all of the other modes, check out the lesson package The Mystery of Modes Revealed in the Bond Tuition shop. Visualization and scale construction So this leads us onto how to view the dorian mode. The first thing to understand is that all of the modes can be categorized as either a major or minor mode, and dorian is a minor mode since its basic root chord is a minor chord.

So, when visualizing the dorian mode, it is useful to view it as related to the natural minor scale with only one note changed. Lets compare the intervallic construction of the dorian mode and the natural minor scale: Dorian Minor Root Root Major 2nd Major 2nd Minor 3rd Minor 3rd Perfect 4th Perfect 4th Perfect 5th Perfect 5th Major 6th Minor 6th Minor 7th Minor 7th

As we can see, the only difference between the two scales is that dorian contains a major 6th, and natural minor contains a minor 6th! Therefore we can use our knowledge of the minor scale when playing dorian, by just sharpening the 6th note of the scale up one semitone (one fret on the guitar). Exercise Using this knowledge, see if you can work out a one octave fingering for an A dorian scale, by taking a minor scale and sharpening the 6th. If youre struggling, dont worry, the answers are on the next page..

Answer:

Scale Fingerings First of all lets have a look at some one octave fingerings for A dorian:

Note that the above fingerings are all exactly the same notes, but played in three different ways. It is intended that you start the scale fingering from the finger suggested above. Exercise Play all three of these scale fingerings from lots of different roots. Make a random list of roots and play the scales in that order, for example: Etc. Jam B Dorian G Dorian C F Ab F#

Load up the A Dorian backing track, and experiment with this scale fingering over it. Try to be melodic and rhythmical! Now lets have a look at a box fingering (within a small box area of the fretboard):

Exercise Work out where the #6 is in the above scale fingering, note that since it spans two octaves, there will be two of them! Exercise See if you can convert this scale fingering into a natural minor scale by flattening the #6s down 1 semitone. Exercise Play this scale fingering in lots of different keys, as we did with the 1 octave fingerings. Jam Load up the A Dorian backing track, and experiment with this scale fingering over it. Try to be melodic and rhythmical!

Finally lets have a look at a 3 note per string fingering for the same A dorian scale:

Exercise

Again, lets work out where the #6 is in the above scale fingering; note that since it spans two and a half octaves, there will be two of them! Exercise Again, see if you can convert this scale fingering into a natural minor scale by flattening the #6s down 1 semitone. Exercise Play this scale fingering in lots of different keys, as we did with the previous. Jam Load up the A Dorian backing track, and experiment with this scale fingering over it. Try to be melodic and rhythmical! Now try to combine all three scale fingerings over the backing track. Dorian And Pentatonic So weve got a bunch of dorian fingerings down, but did you know that you can combine two incredibly familiar scales to get a dorian scale? This works based on the Multiple Pentatonics principle (discussed further in The Mystery of Modes Revealed), which uses more than one pentatonic scale to form another scale. To form a dorian scale, we can simply combine the notes of the root minor pentatonic, and that which starts a tone above (2 frets above). So to clarify: A Dorian = A minor pentatonic + B minor pentatonic Note: If youre unsure of what a pentatonic scale is, or how to play is, check out the Complete Beginners Guitar Starter Pack in the Bond Tuition shop, as it clarifies this is detail, and gives you a ton of other vital information! Exercise Play an A and B minor pentatonic scale together, ascend the A min pent, and descend the B min pent. So when jamming over dorian, we can simply combine the notes of these two minor pentatonic scales for a really easy way to play dorian lines. Cool! Jam

Load up the A Dorian backing track, and experiment with these min pent scales over it. Chord Voicings Lets learn a few chord voicings that give us a very dorian sound. It should be noted that simply playing a minor chord, or even a minor7 chord isnt enough to suggest dorian, we need to include the #6 in the chord if we want to really specifically point to dorian.

Note that weve got two shapes with the lowest note on the E string, and two with the lowest on the A string. The A string shapes are pretty high up on the neck, and youd be unlikely to choose these chords in context, but in order to write them all out in A, we have to go this high! Exercise Learn the above chord shapes, and then look at what notes they contain. What intervals from the dorian mode are featured in each chord? Arpeggios An arpeggio is the notes of a chord, broken up. They can be really useful to improvise with as they point to specific chord sounds. For more information on arpeggios, and a much more extensive guide of fingerings and usage, check out the Sweeping Your Way To Complete Fretboard Knowledge lesson package in the Bond Tuition shop. Over a dorian vibe, we can use the following arpeggios really effectively: Min7 arpeggio from the root Maj7 arpeggio from the minor 3rd This spells out a Min9 chord in dorian Min7b5 arpeggio from the major 6th This spells out a Min6 chord in dorian

Lets learn some fingerings for these arpeggios:

Exercise Learn the above arpeggios, and then play them in lots of other keys, and also starting on different strings. Note that when you hit the B string (5th string), you fingering moves up one fret to compensate for how the guitar is tuned. Jam Load up the A Dorian backing track, and improvise over it using only the arpeggios above, in lots of different positions on the fretboard. Common Usage You could think of the dorian mode as a more edgy sounding minor scale. A very subjective description granted, but it makes sense. In functioning harmony it is generally used over a minor chord functioning as the ii, however it can also be used over a i chord in a minor key. Other uses would be over a static minor chord vamp, such as in a funk type of context, or in modal tunes such as Impressions by John Coltrane. Its strong sound means it will work over almost any minor chord in fusion/jazz harmony, unless the minor chord is very clearly and specifically functioning in a phrygian or aolian way. It can also be used over dominant 7 chords, as the minor third is heard as a #9 extension of the dominant chord. It can be effective used in this way in a blues context, even in a major blues. Final Jam Load up the A dorian backing track, and experiment with all of the above mentioned methods of playing dorian. Combine the different scale shapes with pentatonic phrases and arpeggios to keep the improvisation constantly interesting and every changing.

Weve played over the A dorian track exclusively so far, since the lesson has been specific to this key, so now its time to try playing dorian in other keys. Load up the D Dorian backing track and try improvising over that. Since weve also learnt some dorian voicings, youre more than able to put together a backing track of your own. Load up the E pedal backing track in your recording software, and record your chord comping over it. Dont forget that this track is in E dorian, so youll need to transpose the chord shapes to E. Try improvising over your own backing track in E dorian, again using the concepts discussed. One last thing to note, when players improvise over a static dorian groove, they tend to create tension and release by incorporating chromaticism or suggesting chords which arent really there. The scope of this lesson pack doesnt cover tension/release over static chords, but watch the jam video included and observe how this is done. Check out the Bond Tuition shop for more information on this, or listen to other players. At the time of writing this, a lesson package on this particular subject is being planned, so watch this space! Thanks for checking out this lesson, and hopefully it has been useful to you. Good luck with your practice, play from the heart and keep focused on improving. All the best David