Woodshed 4 Dorian mode Practice Scale-Chord relation in Improvisation The Dorian mode Practice Routines Doriaian mode in 12 keys Quiz and Quiz Answers Downloading Bay Jazclass Links - Circle of Fifths

WS 4.1 - Scale-Chord relation in Improvisation

There is a basic rule in improvisation which says :

For improvisation over a Cm7 chord for example, you can use any scale that contains the Cm7 chord tones : C - Eb - G - Bb.

The simplest way you can produce a C minor scale is to take the C major scale, flatten the 3rd note and 7th note of that scale (E to Eb, B to Bb), and you have a fit with the Cm7 chord tones :

Producing an F minor scale works in the same way.
Take the F major scale, flatten the 3rd note and 7th note (A to Ab, E to Eb), and you have a fit with the Fm7 chord :

F - G - Ab - Bb - C - D - Eb - F

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WS 4.2 - The Dorian mode

Let us have a second look at this C minor scale we just created.
It looks rather familiar.

Audio 1

Ah ! Of course, it has the same notes as the Bb major scale.
Look :

Audio 2


The notes in both scales are the same, but the tonic note of each scale is different.
We call this C minor scale the C Dorian mode.

A mode is a displaced scale. It uses the same notes as the parent scale but starts on a different note. Although the two scales use the same notes they sound different because the two semitone intervals are at different positions in relation to the tonic of each scale. This is not the place to discuss modes in detail, we do that in the Jazz Theory - Lesson 7. The main thing to remember is how to form this scale : take the major scale flatten the 3rd and the 7th note of the scale this produces the Dorian mode, which is the most commonly used scale for improvisation over a minor 7th chord. (This is in the beginning easier to imagine than figuring out to which major scale the mode belongs. In time the two concepts will merge in your mind.)

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WS 4.3 - Practice Routines

The good news about Dorian mode practice is that you have already done plenty of practice on it when you were working on the major scales. The tone sequences for both mode and scale are the same. Only the starting point is different.

Here are three Practice routines which help you to learn the Dorian mode in each key and to establish the chord - scale relationship.

Routine 1
Play the mode up to the 9th (= 2nd note of the scale 1 octave up) and back down to the tonic. Three times up and down, then sustain the tonic note for two bars. This gives you time to focus your mind on the mode in the next key.

Audio 3

The Play-a-Long track (in the Downloading Bay) plays the minor 7th chord for eight bars in each key. The first eight bars are the Cm7 chord, then Fm7, followed by Bbm7, and so on along the Circle of Fifths (Cm7 - Fm7 - Bbm7 - Ebm7 - Abm7 - Dbm7 - Gbm7 - Bm7 - Em7 - Am7 - Dm7 - Gm7). The track is in Bossa style. Play therefore the exercises in straight quavers. The drum accompaniment changes slightly each 8 bars.

Routine 2
Play the mode up to the 9th and then down in chord tones to the tonic. Four times up and down (2 times as written below) , then sustain the tonic note for two bars.

Audio 4

Routine 3
Play the chord tones up to the 9th and then down in Dorian mode to the tonic. Four times up and down (2 times as written below) , then sustain the tonic note for two bars.

Audio 5

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WS 4.4 - The Dorian mode in 12 Keys

The Table below contains the notes of the 7th chord and its related Dorian mode in all keys.

Wish to learn more ? Then get your copy of the new Jazz Theory Course on CD-ROM I promise you : it is a great course ! Don't forget, if you have any questions please ask me. Happy woodshedding ! Michael

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WS 4.5 - Quiz

A.
Transform the following major scales into Dorian modes by altering two notes in the scale.

1. G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G

2. D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# - D

3. Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G - A - Bb

4. Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C - Db

1. Bb - C - D - F - Eb - G - A

2. B - A - C# - E - G - D - F#

3. C - E - Bb - G - F - A - D

4. F - C - D - E - G - B - A

1. F - G - Ab - Bb - C - D - Eb

2. G - A - Bb - C - D - E - F

3. E - F# - G - A - B - C# - D

4. Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - G - Ab

1. Ab - F - Eb - C

2. E - F# - C# - A

3. G - A - C - E

4. A - D - B - F#

5. Gb - Eb - Db - Bb

6. Db - Ab - Bb - F

WS 4.6 - Downloading Bay