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A Guide to the Dorian Mode (Patreon)

Published:
2024-08-30 15:30:43
Imported:
2024-08

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Content

Hi everyone. This week I'm getting into modes, specifically the Dorian mode, which is amongst the most useful of the major scale modes. People often get needlessly confused when it comes to modes, and in this video I do my best to clarify things and to explain how and when to use them.

 Tab can be found below. I've written out the solo I play at the start of the video as well as the various scale fingerings and chord progressions that I discuss in the video. My backing track is down there too. (If you're not yet at the stage where you want to get into modes you can always try soloing along using the D minor pentatonic scale.) Hope you enjoy it.

Speak next week,

Adrian

Files

Dorian Mode: how, when and why to use it, the ultimate guide

Tab and backing track can be found on Patreon (pay what you like): https://www.patreon.com/anyonecanplayguitar My NEW intermediate-level soloing course: https://courses.anyonecanplayguitar.co.uk My latest album: https://zodiactoys.bandcamp.com/releases Please subscribe here for many more YouTube lessons: https://www.youtube.com/c/anyonecanplayguitarcouk Check out my website: https://www.anyonecanplayguitar.co.uk Social blah: Instagram (occasionally I post here): https://www.instagram.com/acpgtr/ Twitter: given up on it Facebook: a page exists, I never look at it 00:00 Modes, any point learning them? 01:15 Dorian jam 03:18 How I like to think about modes 03:49 Dorian mode example songs 04:50 Dorian mode theory 09:00 2 essential scale fingerings 12:05 Modes and pentatonics 13:07 Noodling around 15:30 Dorian chord progressions 22:24 Dorian chords 24:55 Dorian arpeggios 25:52 Gear used in this video 27:06 Bye

Comments

Marek Polacek

Sometimes I feel like you're reading my mind. Thanks for doing this.

Jack Cook

Fantastic sound man !

Bob

Thank you! Yes, I would love a series on modes. This was tremendously helpful.

Jasper Robinson

Good stuff, Adrian—thank you. Milton Mermikides has some YouTube content on modes that help to make sense of the modes and to remember what's changing. He orders them starting at Lydian (brightest) and ending on Locrian (darkest). The home note of each mode steps up in fifths. And one new note of each mode is flattened in the next (darker) mode. The flattened note is flattened in all modes that occur later in the light→dark series. Modes as light → dark 4, 7, 3, 6, 2, 5 are flattened. Major modes Lydian [F]: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7 Ionian [C]: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mixolydian [G]: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 Minor modes Dorian [D]: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7 Aeolian [A]: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 Phrygian [E]: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 Half-diminished mode Locrian [B]: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7

Jim Parker (edited)

Comment edits

2026-09-07 18:00 The mood generated by Dorian is so distinctive. It feels at once pensive and hopeful and mysterious. It’s that elusive effect that makes it so pliable. The dark mystery is evident in ‘Riders on the Storm’, the playful hopefulness is heard in ‘Moondance’ or Santana’s ‘Oye Como Va’. Great lesson. Thanks Adrian.
2024-08-30 20:20

Mr Mont

Hey Adrian - thanks for another informative video! I was wondering if the Jazzmaster is your go-to guitar when you don't need a specific sound for a specific song. If so, can you put into words why, or is it just the guitar whose sound and playing you're most at home with?

NB

Loved this lesson Adrian - yes please more modes - your explanations are just so clear and the information practically useful. I appreciate the effort you to into your lessons!

Rainer

Not to forget the Maestro of Dorian mode Carlos Santana!

anyonecanplayguitar

Yes, indeed! I very nearly played a snippet from Oye Como Va in the video.

anyonecanplayguitar

Thanks NB! There definitely seems to be some interest in more modes videos, so I'll try and make that happen soon.

anyonecanplayguitar

Yes, I'm lucky enough to have a few really nice guitars, but at the moment the Jazzmaster is the one I'm drawn to if I'm 'being myself' as opposed to trying to get inside someone else's style or song. That might change - for a long time my go to guitar was the Telecaster, which I still love using. But I do enjoy using the vibrato arm on the JM, and that's now become part of my style.

anyonecanplayguitar

Yes, absolutely Jim - so important to hear and feel modes in this way, rather than it just being some theoretical/technical exercise!

anyonecanplayguitar

Thanks Jasper. This is really interesting, I'll have to check out some of his YouTube content. This definitely aligns with the way I hear the modes, and it's nice to see a theoretical explanation of why they sound like they do.

anyonecanplayguitar

Thanks Bob. Yes, there seems to be quite a bit of interest in a modes series, so I'll try and make that happen.

anyonecanplayguitar

Haha, nice we're on the same wavelength Marek, hope you enjoy the video!

Mark Kelly

Good lesson Adrian. Certainly could do more mode lessons. Maybe the most useful ones. Mixolydian and Aeolian spring to mind. It would be cool to a “ how to not sound like Jo Satrani when using Lydian “ too

Bert B

Had to go back and listen to the opening piece again. Emotive vocal phrasing, original and 'complete' is the only word I can come up with.

Jasper Robinson

If you start off with a minor pentatonic in D you can superimpose the E-minor pentatonic on it to catch the notes that the D pentatonic misses out of the Dorian in D (i.e., the Dorian's 2nd, E, and the all-important major 6th, B). Apart from Ionian (major), Aeolian (natural minor) and Phrygian (unusable diminished), this trick works for other modes, too: E Phrygian = E minor pentatonic + D minor pentatonic; F Lydian = F major pentatonic + G major pentatonic; G Mixolydian = G major pentatonic + F major pentatonic.

RedNed

Thanks. What pedal are you using for the drone ?

kevin hellon

Yes. Please give us more mode content.

Chris DeNamur

As a relatively new player, I only just learning the different modes so videos like this help me view modes in different ways and understand how the intervals changes affect the tonal sound. Additionally, reading other's comments are helpful because of how they explain their way of seeing modes. Thanks!

anyonecanplayguitar

Hi Kevin. Yes, this video got a good response so there are definitely going to be more. Currently working on Mixolydian and Lydian videos. Will eventually try and cover all of the modes.

anyonecanplayguitar

It's an Electro Harmonix Freeze - there's a bit of info about it towards the very end of the video.

anyonecanplayguitar

Thanks Jasper. Really good information. I've not thought of it in quite this way before! An entire video on the relationships between diatonic scales and pentatonics could be an interesting one.

anyonecanplayguitar

Thanks Bert! The little solos I do at the start of videos are a place where I can try and get across a bit of my personality as a player, so it's nice you liked it.

anyonecanplayguitar

Thanks Mark. Mixolydian and Lydian videos are in the works currently. Will try and get around to them all eventually!

hugh hales-tooke

I would like you to do other modes. I found what you said about chords in the Dorian mode helpful (I minor to IV major and I minor to II minor as being characteristic changes) Liked the reference to 'Breathe' too.

hugh hales-tooke

I guess you'll be covering a Bjork song for the Locrian mode if you ever do that one, Ha ha. Who else has ever used it?

John Kowall

Very amazing lesson Adrian , if you get the chance .. would love to see you do a cover of the F.B.I from the Shadows .. great instrumental!.. as always great learning from you .., Johnny 😊✋🏻🎸

Hans Henning Thomas

Yes, but why do you call it "major mode" n your mail? In my sight it is a minor, because it´s got a min 3hrd. Yes, now you teached it right. Just a mistakt in the mail, I guess.

anyonecanplayguitar

Hi Hans. Yes, I think I’m just referring to it as a mode of the major scale, which is where it’s derived from. The Dorian mode itself is of course minor in character. Hope that makes sense!