Dorian Mode for Guitar – Patterns, Licks, and Chords

mattwarnockguitar.com/dorian/

by Matt Warnock / Sunday, 08 May 2011 / Published in Beginner , Jazz Guitar Lessons , Jazz Guitar Scales May 8, 2011

The second mode of the major scale, the Dorian mode is used to solo over minor family
chords, and built by playing the C major scale from the notes D to D.

Dorian is one of the most important modes in jazz and fusion, and is essential for any modern
guitarist to have under their fingers.

In this lesson you learn how to build the Dorian mode, apply it to your solos, study one and
two-octave fingerings, scale patterns, and licks in the style of Miles Davis.

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Dorian Mode Quick Facts

What is the Dorian mode? The Dorian mode is a 7-note mode that is built from the 2 nd note of
the major scale. This means that D Dorian has the same notes as C major, just starting on D.
Dorian has the interval pattern 1-2-b3-4-5-6-b7-1.

What is the Dorian scale? The Dorian scale is the same as the Dorian mode; it’s another way of
saying the same thing. Saying, “I’m practicing the Dorian scale” or “I’m practicing the Dorian
mode” are implying the same idea.

What is the Dorian mode used for? The Dorian mode is used to solo over m7 chords to
produce a m6 sound. As well, Dorian is used to solo over chord progressions built from Dorian
chords.

What note does the Dorian mode start on? Dorian starts on the 2nd note of the major scale, so
it’s the same as C major starting on D.

What are the chords in the Dorian mode? The chords from the Dorian mode are Im7 – iim7 –
bIIImaj7 – IV7 – vm7 – vim7b5 – bVIImaj7. Or, in the key of D Dorian the chords are Dm7-
Em7-Fmaj7-G7-Am7-Bm7b5-Cmaj7.

Is the Dorian mode minor or major? The Dorian mode is a minor mode because it contains the
b3 interval and a minor triad, 1-b3-5, in its construction.

Dorian Mode Construction

The Dorian mode has seven notes and no accidentals when written in the key of D Dorian.

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This means that if you play D Dorian on the piano, you play only the white keys on the
keyboard.

These seven notes can be written a number of ways such as intervals:

R-2-b3-4-5-6-b7

Or as specific intervals such as:

P1-M2-m3-P4-P5-M6-m7

In this case, the legend for each symbol would be:

P = Perfect Interval
M = Major Interval
m = Minor Interval

While these intervals are commonly used, you can think of the upper notes as extensions.

This means that you think of Dorian with this pattern:

R-9-b3-11-5-13-b7

I prefer this way, as you visualize the upper colors of the Dorian mode, creating the upper
chord extensions over any chord.

Here’s how the D Dorian mode looks on the fretboard, with both notes and intervals.

You can use either system, 2-4-6 or 9-11-13, or a mixture of both, depending on the musical
situation.

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Either way, Dorian has a natural 6th, which distinguishes it from the Aeolian and Phrygian
modes, both of which have b6 intervals.

When soloing over a m7 chord, highlighting the 6th brings out the Dorian mode sound, which
you hear in the licks below.

Dorian Mode Application

Now that you know how to build the Dorian mode, take a look at how you apply this scale to a
soloing situation.

The Dorian mode is used to solo over chords in the minor family.

Minor family chords include:

m7
m6
m9
m6/9
m11

These chords are built from notes in the Dorian mode, and therefore Dorian is used to solo
over these chords.

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Here’s an example of a Dorian fingering and three chords derived from that mode to see how
they relate on paper and on the fretboard.

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Here’s a D Dorian backing track that you can use to practice any of the shapes, patterns, or
licks in this lesson.

D Dorian Mode Backing Track D Dorian Mode Backing Track

Dorian Chords
To help you expand your harmony, here are 8 more Dorian chords that you can learn and apply
to your playing.

Each of these chord shapes is built from the Dorian mode, allowing them to be used in
situations where Dorian is applicable.

Learn each shape first, then add them to your rhythm guitar playing over progressions and
songs.

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You can now learn four Dorian chords on the 5th string.
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Again, work these shapes on their own, then use them to comp over tunes and Dorian
progressions in your studies.

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Dorian Mode One Octave Fingerings
Here are 12 one-octave Dorian shapes that you can work on in your practice routine.

These shapes come in handy when soloing over fast moving chords or at fast tempos.

Work these scales in 12 keys, as well as solo over minor-family chords, using these shapes as
the basis for your lines.

This ensures that you work Dorian modes from both a technical and improvisational
standpoint.

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You can also practice Dorian modes with your middle finger on the first note.

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Once you have these four Dorian shapes down, move between the first four and these four in
your practice routine.

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Lastly, here are four Dorian shapes that begin with your pinky finger.

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Work these shapes in 12 keys as well as solo over backing tracks with these scales in the
woodshed.

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Once you have these shapes under your fingers, move between these modes in your technical
and improvisational practice routine.
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Explore all 12 Dorian fingerings, but don’t feel that you have to have these Dorian shapes under
your fingers at all times.

Over time you pick favorites and they work their way into your playing, while others you might
not use that much.

This is fine, and is part of the learning process as you work through technical items in your
studies.

Dorian Mode Two Octave Fingerings

You can now take these Dorian modes a step further by learning two-octave shapes on the
fretboard.

These shapes come in handy when you solo over longer chords in tunes like “So What” and
“Maiden Voyage.”

There are a number of ways that you can build two-octave Dorian scales, here are four of my
favorites to get you started.

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Learn these shapes one at a time, and then combine two or more in your guitar practice routine
as you expand these important mode shapes.
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With these Dorian shapes down, you’re ready to learn patterns as you use this scale to build
technique, fretboard knowledge, and improvisational confidence.

Dorian Mode Patterns

You now check out patterns over the Dorian modes that you’ve learned up to this point in the
lesson.

To begin, here’s an ascending pattern that you can use to expand your technique.

The pattern is built by playing the scale in 4ths, in this case ascending.

This means that you play 1-4, 2-5, 3-6, etc. as you work your way up the scale.

Go slow with this pattern, work it through one and two-octave shapes and different keys as
you take this pattern around the fretboard.

Click to listen to dorian scales 1

You can also work this pattern descending, which you can see in the D Dorian fingering below.

To create 4ths, you play every third note, creating the intervals 8-5, 7-4, 6-3, etc. as you work
your way down the Dorian mode.

Click to listen to dorian scales 2

Once you have these patterns under your fingers, put on a minor backing track and add 4ths to
your solos.

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You don’t have to play them in every phrase, but adding 4ths here and there will spice up your
improvised lines.

3 Dorian Mode Licks

As well as learning practice patterns, you can study common jazz licks to expand your
vocabulary and build your understanding of Dorian in a soloing context.

This first lick is the opening line to Miles Davis’ solo on “So What,” and is one of the most
recognizable Dorian lines in jazz history.

Click to listen to dorian scales 3

The second lick is also from Miles’ solo on “ So What,” and highlights the characteristic 6th of
the Dorian scale in the final bar.

Click to listen to dorian scales 4

Here’s a lick from Miles’ solo on “Milestones,” which uses different rhythms that you can
explore in your soloing practice routine.

Click to listen to dorian scales 5

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Once you have these licks down, write out 3 Dorian licks of your own to build your vocabulary
with this important mode.

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