What is Dorian?
I have covered Major, Minor and Mixolydian. What is the Dorian mode? According to Hello Music Theory, Dorian, sometimes known as Doric mode, is the second mode of the major scale. There are seven modes. Hello Music Theory’s example of converting Major into Dorian is to use all of C Major’s notes, but start and finish on D.
Hello Music Theory says the step formula for Dorian is: W-H-W-W-W-H-W.
What does Dorian sound like?
According to Musical U, Dorian may be minor sounding because of a minor third interval (The F instead of an F# in D Dorian, for example, makes it sound minor). However, because of the higher sixth interval (For D Dorian, this would be B instead of Bb), it’s not entirely doom and gloom the same way a D Minor scale would sound.
Musical U indicates that Dorian is often melancholy yet hopeful at the same time. The raised sixth note gives the listener optimism in an otherwise gloomy song. It is often best for jazz and blues music.
What are the Dorian scales?
Hello Music Theory lists the Dorian scales as the following:
D Dorian: D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D
Eb Dorian: Eb-F-Gb-Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb
E Dorian: E-F#-G-A-B-C#-D-E
F Dorian: F-G-Ab-Bb-C-D-Eb-F
F# Dorian: F#-G#-A-B-C#-D#-E-F#
G Dorian: G-A-Bb-C-D-E-F-G
G# Dorian: G#-A#-B-C#-D#-E#F-#-G#
A Dorian: A-B-C-D-E-F#-G-A
Bb Dorian: Bb-C-Db-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb
B Dorian: B-C#-D-E-F#-G#-A-B
C Dorian: C-D-Eb-F-G-A-Bb-C
C# Dorian: C#-D#-E-F#-G#-A#-B-C#
What songs use Dorian mode?
How about some classic examples that Hooktheory has of Dorian songs for you to learn on the piano? Here you go!
D Dorian: Another Brick In The Wall- Pink Floyd
Eb Dorian: Man In The Box- Alice In Chains
E Dorian: Feels- Calvin Harris
F Dorian: Stayin’ Alive- Bee Gees
F# Dorian: Who Do You Think You Are- Spice Girls
G# Dorian: Heart-Shaped Box- Nirvana
A Dorian: What Goes Around Comes Around- Justin Timberlake
Bb Dorian: Memories- David Guetta
B Dorian: Get Lucky- Daft Punk
