Songs in Dorian Mode?

leshhead · Newbie Alert Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 3

Bass books on theory frequently say (when they are talking about the Dorian mode) that there are many well known songs written in the Dorian mode. But none of the books that I have read have ever given even one example. Can anybody help? What is a song which is written in the Dorian Mode?

aj2taylo · Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2002 12:31 pm Post subject: Songs in Dorian Mode?

I'm not sure what styles of music you're into, but the Miles Davis tune "So What" is a famous Dorian mode jazz tune. It's form is 16 bars of Dm7, 8 bars of Ebm7, and 8 bars of Dm7, and then starts over again. The head/melody is played by the bass, and uses the dorian mode.

A number of riffs used in Rush tunes are based on the dorian mode. As well, the major 6 of the dorian clashes less with chord tones than the minor 6 of the natural minor (aeolian) scale.

Hope this helps.

leshhead · Newbie Alert Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 3

Thanks, I know and like "So What?" I don't really know Rush, but I've read so much about Geddy Lee, that I've resolved to check out their music and this will push me in that direction sooner. Thanks.

quote:
Originally posted by aj2taylo:
I'm not sure what styles of music you're into, but the Miles Davis tune "So What" is a famous Dorian mode jazz tune. It's form is 16 bars of Dm7, 8 bars of Ebm7, and 8 bars of Dm7, and then starts over again. The head/melody is played by the bass, and uses the dorian mode.

A number of riffs used in Rush tunes are based on the dorian mode. As well, the major 6 of the dorian clashes less with chord tones than the minor 6 of the natural minor (aeolian) scale.

Hope this helps.

Josh · Tadpole Joined: 27 Sep 2002 Posts: 24

No offense, but I get the impression that the melody is the trumpet part, this being Miles Davis.

aj2taylo · Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2002 7:29 pm Post subject: Songs in Dorian Mode?

Hey Josh,

Actually, the bass plays the melody in the original (and many covers) of So What. I have heard very upbeat, funky covers where the guitar plays it.

However, I find in tunes such as So What, with long stretches on a single minor chord, the dorian is a better scale to solo and play walking lines under, as the natural 6 clashes less with the chord tones than the minor 6.

AT