Dorian mode.html



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Due to historical confusion, Dorian mode or Doric mode can refer to two very different musical modes or diatonic scales.

Greek Dorian mode

The Dorian mode is named after the Dorian Greeks. In Greek music theory it was based on the Dorian tetrachord: descending, a series of falling intervals of two whole tones followed by a semitone. Applied to a whole octave, the Dorian mode was built upon two Dorian tetrachords separated by a whole tone. This is the same as playing all the white notes of a piano (ascending, as in the modern reckoning) from E to E: E F G A | B C D E. Placing the two tetrachords together, and the single tone at the bottom of the scale produces the Hypodorian mode (below Dorian): A | B C D E | (E) F G A. Placing the two tetrachords together, and the single tone at the top of the scale produces the Hyperdorian mode (above Dorian), which is effectively the same as the mediaeval and modern Locrian mode. Confusingly, the Greek Dorian mode is the same as the mediaeval and modern Phrygian mode.

Medieval and modern Dorian mode

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Dorian mode on C

The early Christian church developed a system of eight musical modes (the octoechos), which mediaeval music scholars related to the ancient Greek modes. Misinterpreting the Latin texts of Boethius, medieval modes were given the wrong Greek names. Thus, in medieval and modern music, the Dorian mode is a diatonic scale or musical mode which corresponds to the white keys of the piano from "D" to "D". It may be considered an "excerpt" of a major scale played from the pitch a whole tone above the major scale's tonic (in the key of C Major it would be D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D), i.e., a major scale played from its second scale degree up to its second degree again. The resulting scale is, however, minor (or has a minor "feel" or character) because as the "D" becomes the new tonal centre the minor third between the D and the F make us "hear minor". If we build a chord on the tonic, third and fifth, it is a minor chord.

The formula for this can be shown as:

Whole Step - Half Step - Whole Step - Whole Step - Whole Step - Half Step - Whole Step

or more simply:

whwwwhw

Examples of the Dorian mode include:

• The D Dorian mode contains all notes the same as the C major scale starting on D.
• The G Dorian mode contains all notes the same as the F major scale starting on G.
• The A Dorian mode contains all notes the same as the G major scale starting on A.

The Dorian mode is symmetric, meaning that the pattern of tones and semitones (T-s-T-T-T-s-T) is the same ascending or descending. The difference between the Dorian mode and the modern natural minor scale is well exemplified in the relative "hardness" of the 6th note of the tune. In the modern minor scale, this note would be a semitone lower.

The Dorian mode is equivalent to the natural minor scale (or the Aeolian mode) but with the sixth degree raised a semi-tone. Confusingly, the medieval and modern Dorian mode is the same as the Greek Phrygian mode.

"The Modern Dorian Mode, in A"

An acoustic guitar playing the basic Dorian mode pattern up and down. The recording is in the key of A.

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Notable compositions in Dorian mode

• "Along Comes Mary" by The Association^[1]
• "Drunken Sailor"^[2]
• "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles^[3]
• "Scarborough Fair"^[2]

References