Dorian

The Dorian mode is a The Aeolian mode is a musical mode that is derived from the natural minor scale. It has a slightly darker and more serious character and is often used in a variety of musical styles, including classical, jazz, and blues.

The Dorian mode is constructed using the following pattern of whole and half steps: whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half, whole. This pattern is similar to that of the natural minor scale, with the exception of the sixth scale degree, which is raised by a half step.

The Dorian mode is characterized by its minor tonality, which is created by the combination of the minor third and the perfect fifth intervals. These intervals give the Dorian mode its dark and serious character and make it a popular choice for introspective and contemplative music.

To use the Dorian mode in your music, you can start by choosing a natural minor scale and then altering the pattern of whole and half steps to create the Dorian mode. You can then use this mode as the foundation for your melodies and harmonies, using the minor tonality to create a dark and serious sound.

The Dorian mode is a popular and widely used mode.

Example Diagram

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
D - E - F - G - A - B - C - D
  W   H   W   W   W   H   W

The "Whole" (W) and "Half" (H) labels represent the intervals between the notes of the scale. A whole step is equal to two half steps, and a half step is equal to one piano key (black or white). They are also known as tones and semitones.

To build the Dorian mode starting from the key of C, you would use the following notes: C, D, E♭, F, G, A, and B♭. The Dorian mode is a minor scale, and it is characterized by a lowered 3rd and 7th degree of the scale compared to the Ionian mode (also known as the major scale). In the key of C, the Ionian mode consists of the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. To create the Dorian mode from the Ionian mode, you would simply lower the 3rd and 7th degrees of the scale by a half step, resulting in the notes C, D, E♭, F, G, A, and B♭.

1 - 2 - 3  - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7  - 8
C - D - E♭ - F - G - A - B♭ - C
  W   H   W   W   W   H   W

Examples

Here are a few examples of music that uses the Dorian mode:

• "Misty" by Erroll Garner: This jazz standard is written in the Dorian mode and has a introspective and contemplative character.
• "Blackbird" by The Beatles: This rock ballad is written in the Dorian mode and has a moody and introspective character.
• "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck: This jazz piece is written in the Dorian mode and has a cool and relaxed character.
• "A Minor Blues" by Miles Davis: This jazz piece is written in the Dorian mode and has a bluesy and improvisatory character.
• "Summertime" by George Gershwin: This classical piece is written in the Dorian mode and has a nostalgiciac and introspective character.

These are just a few examples of the many musical styles and genres that make use of the Dorian mode. By listening to these and other examples of music that use the Dorian mode, you can get a sense of the character and mood of this mode and how it is used in a variety of musical contexts.