DORIAN SCALE - The 2nd mode of Major [MUSIC THEORY]

Pre-requisite videos:

A special thank you to Linas Orentas and Marek Pawlowski for their generous support!

The dorian mode is the 2nd mode of major, and for a long time I didn't really understand how to use dorian or what it was for. In this video, I want to teach you the basics behind how it's built, how it relates to major and minor, and also how to build its chords. From there we will take a look at some examples of the i-IV change and how different artists use it, as well as general musings on dorian as it relates to the guitar.

Free online guitar lessons for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. Located in Crystal Lake, Jake Lizzio provides free jam tracks and video lessons for guitar players, as well as music theory videos and other music education content.

Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:51 Building Dorian
03:30 Feeling Dorian
06:08 Song Examples
07:54 Dorian Vs. Minor
09:36 Wrapping Up

[andvgeo]

Wow, seriously this channel is the best for music theory

[griffinsdr]

Honestly my favourite channel on YouTube right now. You’re so easy to understand and I don’t have to wade through ads and sponsors to get to the good stuff. Thanks man for doing what you do.

[DBruce]

Beautiful, crystal clear presentation, and nice guitar chops!

[zackamania]

You and Rick Beato are ruling the music theory scene on YouTube right now. Thanks a mil!

[SignalsMusicStudio]

The whole reason I learned music theory was so I could make more music. I have a new song coming out very very very soon that I wrote and produced and had my friend sing and act in. I hope you guys will enjoy it (it will be ridiculous) even though it won't be very informative =P
Stay tuned! Also at 5:10, I made a mistake. On screen it shows i-V instead of i-IV.

[radiozelaza]

in rock context, I always think of Dorian as "Santana scale". In other contexts, as "folk minor"

[MaggaraMarine]

Why guitarists a lot of times make the confusion worse is because of two things.

1) Many times they treat modes as some kind of a "holy grail" of music, which is why beginners try to learn them before they even understand what major and minor keys are. To understand modes properly, you first need to understand what makes C major and A minor different. It's all about the tonal center. Learning about functional harmony also helps. But yeah, it makes sense to first focus on the major and minor keys, also because most music is in major and minor keys. Knowing major and minor is a lot more important than knowing the modes.

2) Some guitar teachers also call the fretboard positions "modes". This way, beginners think that "playing in a mode" means using a certain fretboard position and that you somehow change the mode when you change the fretboard position. And that's just incorrect. Using different fretboard positions doesn't change anything if the chords in the background stay the same. All positions of the same scale have the same notes in them - you are just playing them in a different position or a different octave, but they are still the same notes and will sound the same. The mode doesn't change.

I guess it's generally about the fact that guitar is such a shape based instrument, and if you don't properly understand where the shapes come from, you can't really understand when to use what scales either. The key you are in has nothing to do with scale shapes. It has everything to do with harmony.

[francissreckofabian]

I love your voice. You could do voice overs or anything that needs a clear, authoritative voice. Perfect for a teacher/tutorial.

[VetNovice]

Loved the practical applications of Dorian. It's by far my favorite mode, and I got into it because of temple of time music or dark world music from Legend of Zelda when making adventuring compositions.

Dorian is super interesting, it basically is the most neutral of modes, and if you invert it, it plays itself.

Your lessons are getting spicier, you're throwing down the content in your format more and more, stuffing it in with everything I loved in previous videos. Keep going man, I'm really proud of you.


For piano, learning modes for me was easier to think of the flats associated with the numbers and then listing the flats next to it.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Major
1 2 3b 4 5 6b 7b Minor - 3b 6b 7b
1 2 3b 4 5 6 7b Dorian - 3b 7b

It makes everything a lot easier to chart than fiddling around with what key to learn stuff in. I know modes are all jumbled and hard, but I feel people can make it a much easier time on themselves with good training that you provide.

[spikespiegal]

You're hands down the best music teacher on YouTube. Clear, smooth, concise, sharp, to the point, passionate but not in a cringe inducing way, brillant but not arrogant... please keep it up!!

[elmopablo]

Stumbled across this guy.
All I can say is that he is an amazing communicator. Layout, content, sound and ease of understanding. It was amazingly a joy to watch and easy to understand. Best video on Dorian mode I have seen. Hope there are more for all other modes.
Many sincere thanks

[kalelvigil]

Dorian and Mixolydian always were easy for me to point out. Dorian always felt weirdly sad/triumphant, while Mixolydian felt happy/bittersweet.

[KevinRoddy]

Jake, I’m a harp player, and your instruction on the modes is excellent. Like you, I learned the modes very easily in a short time, and in all keys. Knowing when and how to use them and to get the most out of them is why I come to channels like yours for you experience and advice! Many thanks!

[kagenotatsumaki]

WOW. I've heard that "Modes aren't scale shapes, they're more of a chord thing then a scale thing" but I never knew why until you gave the example of taking the scale and skipping every other note... That was an eye opener!

[stuarthossack]

Great teacher, I wish you were around when I played in bands. Now just a house player but I live vicariously through great musicians like you. Respect from the UK.

[pentatronic]

Other uses for dorian:
Sea shanties: Drunken Sailor, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Daft Punk/disco: Around the World, Get Lucky
Also Teardrop by Massive Attack seems to alternate between dorian and mixolydian.
Finally, the mode that unites Santana, Daft Punk, 19th century shanties, and Dr. House!

[JoeyCour]

apparently it's really hard to explain music theory, because you're the only one that can paint a clear picture about these topics for me. thank you!

[sublimetrance]

Man you are amazing Jake! I used to play the guitar, really just dabbled, several decades ago. I probably played for about 5 years total and haven't picked up a guitar again until about 3 weeks ago (I stopped playing around 1993, just didn't have the time anymore). Back then, people tried to explain music theory to me. From music teachers in school, to friends that played, to reading books. I just didn't understand the theory stuff and/or they couldn't explain it well. But from just watching your videos, I've learned more in the 3 past weeks than in all the years I played back then. You, sir, are an amazing teacher and musician!

[motafov]

NO! this video is NOT making things more confusing, it is dissecting theory into tangible, understandable, refreshingly clear subject matter. I'm certain I'm not the only one who believes that you must be the BEST online instructor available on youtube today...most guys can't help but get a little egotistical and self-absorbed, whereas you my friend are as one individual in the comments put it, godsent... many thanks, not just for this tutorial, but for everything you've produced thus far for us to learn from. Even for us advanced players, your videos always have some new angle, and your delivery (verbal articulation, guitar playing, and on screen visuals) is top notch!

[quezlark]

You are an incredible teacher. I've broken through so many music walls since finding your channel. Thank you from all of us.