Dorian

C Ionian works great over C major chords (C major 7, C major 9), but it will sound dissonant over C minor chords. That’s why you need C Dorian and the other modes that make up the minor modes.

C Dorian is identical to C Ionian except the third and the seventh notes of the scale are flat-ted. (The 3rd degree of any mode or scale will determine whether it is major or minor). This gives the Dorian mode a bluesy feel. It often sounds great in funk, blues, and tunes that have a minor, melancholy feel.

To make the Dorian mode in any key, flat the third and seventh degrees of the scale.

C Dorian

Notes	C	D	E ♭	F	G	A	B ♭
Intervals	1	2	♭ 3	4	5	6	♭ 7
Intervals		Whole step	Half step	Whole step	Whole step	Whole step	Half step

♭=flatted Here are chords that work well with the Dorian Mode: Minor triads, Minor 7th, Minor 9th, Minor 11th, Minor 13th, Minor 6th/9th.You can play the Dorian mode in any key simply by flat-ting the third and the seventh notes of the scale.

Listen to Dorian w/gtr, which has Rob playing modal licks over a simple vamp. Then you can practice C Dorian with the IntroTrack track, Dorian w/out gtr.

When you want to hear the Dorian mode in a musical setting, check out Jamming at the Palladium w/gtr. Check out how Rob brings the Dorian mode to life with great little melodies and licks. Then it’s your turn: play along with Jamming at the Palladium without lead guitar.

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