Dorian Mode

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The dorian mode is the second mode of the major scale. It is very similar to the natural minor scale, except that the sixth of the dorian mode is major rather than minor. The dorian mode generates a minor seventh chord:

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This scale thus is used over minor seventh chords. The scale also generates and can be used over a minor sixth chord:

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The scale contains no avoid notes over either of these chords. Here is an example of a dorian mode melody over a minor seventh chord:

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Since the dorian is built on the second degree of the major scale, using the dorian mode over a ii chord results in a completely diatonic scale:

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If the dorian mode is used over either of the other minor chords in a major key (the iii and vi chords), the scale will contain notes that are not diatonic to the key. For example, consider a piece in the key of C. If it contains an Em7 and an Am7 chord, and the E dorian and A dorian scale respectively are used over these chords, then there will be non-diatonic notes in the scales, even though the chords themselves are diatonic to the key:

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If a minor seventh chord that is not diatonic to the key occurs, then the scale will contain other non-diatonic pitches, such as when F dorian is used over an Fm7 chord in C major:

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The dorian mode is one of the most popular scales in modal music. Many compositions by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and others use this scale exclusively. For example, consider the composition "So What" by Miles Davis:

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Copyright 2000 Outside Shore Music
Authored by Marc Sabatella

Dorian Mode