Dorian mode

Information about Dorian mode

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 Mixolydian mode: B C D E | (E) F G A | B. Confusingly, the Greek Dorian mode is the same as the mediaeval and modern Phrygian mode.

Medieval and modern Dorian mode

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. Examples of the mode's use include "What shall we do with the Drunken Sailor" and "Scarborough Fair". When played correctly, Greensleeves is also (mostly) in the Dorian mode: the difference between the Dorian mode and the modern natural minor scale is well exemplified in the relative "hardness" of the 5th note of the tune (in the modern minor scale, this note would be a semitone lower; indeed the air is often heard or sung in this "modernised", incorrect way).

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.

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 songs in Dorian mode

External links

Modes of the diatonic scale[ edit ]
Lydian (IV) | Ionian (I) | Mixolydian (V)
Dorian (ii) | Aeolian (vi) | Phrygian (iii) | Locrian (vii)

scale is an ordered series of musical intervals, which, along with the key or tonic, define the pitches. However, mode is usually used in the sense of scale applied only to the specific diatonic scales found below.
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diatonic scale (from the Greek διατονικος, meaning "[progressing] through tones", also known as the heptatonia prima
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Dorians (Greek: Δωριεῖς, Dōrieis, singular Δωριεύς
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17,000,000
Regions with significant populations
 Greece [1]
 United States
 Cyprus
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Traditionally, a tetrachord is a series of four tones filling in the interval of a perfect fourth, a 4:3 frequency proportion. In modern usage a tetrachord is any four-note segment of a scale or tone row. The term tetrachord derives from ancient Greek music theory.
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major second
Inverse minor seventh
Name
Other names whole tone
Abbreviation M2
Size
Semitones 2
Interval class 2
Just interval 9:8 or 10:9
Cents
Equal temperament 200
Just intonation
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semitone
Inverse major seventh; diminished octave
Name
Other names minor second
or diatonic semitone;
augmented unison
or chromatic semitone
Abbreviation m2; aug1
Size
Semitones 1
Interval class 1

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Perfect octave
Inverse unison
Name
Other names -
Abbreviation P8
Size
Semitones 12
Interval class 0
Just interval 2:1
Cents
Equal temperament 1200
Just intonation 1200 In music, an octave
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The hypodorian mode, literally meaning 'below dorian', is a musical mode or diatonic scale of ancient Greece that was based upon the dorian tetrachord: a series of rising intervals of a semitone followed by two whole tones.
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Octoechos (Greek: Ὀκτώηχος, meaning the "Eight Modes") is the fundamental structure for classifying and describing modes (echos) in Byzantine music.
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Latin}}} 
Official status
Official language of: Vatican City
Used for official purposes, but not spoken in everyday speech
Regulated by: Opus Fundatum Latinitas
Roman Catholic Church
Language codes
ISO 639-1: la
ISO 639-2: lat
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Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius[1] (480–524 or 525) was a Christian philosopher of the 6th century. He was born in Rome to an ancient and important family which included emperors Petronius Maximus and Olybrius and many consuls.
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diatonic scale (from the Greek διατονικος, meaning "[progressing] through tones", also known as the heptatonia prima
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scale is an ordered series of musical intervals, which, along with the key or tonic, define the pitches. However, mode is usually used in the sense of scale applied only to the specific diatonic scales found below.
..... Click the link for more information.
In music theory, the major scale is one of the diatonic scales. It is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher.

The simplest major scale is C major (figure 1), the only major scale not to require sharps or flats on the
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Pitch is the perceived fundamental frequency of a sound. While the actual fundamental frequency can be precisely determined through physical measurement, it may differ from the perceived pitch because of overtones, or partials, in the sound.
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major second
Inverse minor seventh
Name
Other names whole tone
Abbreviation M2
Size
Semitones 2
Interval class 2
Just interval 9:8 or 10:9
Cents
Equal temperament 200
Just intonation
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The tonic is the first note of a musical scale, and in the tonal method of musical composition it is extremely important. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most important chord.
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scale degree is the name of a particular note of a scale in relation to the tonic (the note of the scale that is considered the most important). The degrees of the traditional major and minor scales may be identified several ways:

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In music theory, the major scale is one of the diatonic scales. It is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher.

The simplest major scale is C major (figure 1), the only major scale not to require sharps or flats on the
..... Click the link for more information.
In music theory, the major scale is one of the diatonic scales. It is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher.

The simplest major scale is C major (figure 1), the only major scale not to require sharps or flats on the
..... Click the link for more information.
In music theory, the major scale is one of the diatonic scales. It is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher.

The simplest major scale is C major (figure 1), the only major scale not to require sharps or flats on the
..... Click the link for more information.
Symmetry in common usage generally conveys two primary meanings. The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically-pleasing proportionality and balance; such that it reflects beauty or perfection.
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semitone
Inverse major seventh; diminished octave
Name
Other names minor second
or diatonic semitone;
augmented unison
or chromatic semitone
Abbreviation m2; aug1
Size
Semitones 1
Interval class 1

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Drunken Sailor is a famous traditional sea shanty also known as What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?. It is now rarely called by its other name Sailor’s Holiday.
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Annotation: The extract of the musical score represented herewith details a variation: the last note of the second measure may be rendered E not F.]]

"Scarborough Fair" is a traditional English fair, as well as a traditional English ballad.
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Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song and tune, basically a ground of the form called a romanesca.

A broadside ballad by this name was registered at the London Stationer's Company in 1580 as "A New Northern Dittye of the Lady Greene Sleeves.
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The Aeolian mode comprises a musical mode or diatonic scale.

An Aeolian mode formed part of the music theory of ancient Greece, based around the relative natural scale in A (that is, the same as playing all the 'white notes' of a piano from A to A).
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A-side(s) "Yellow Submarine"
Released 1966-08-05 (UK)
1966-08-08 (U.S.)
Format 7"
Recorded Abbey Road Studios
28–29 April; 6 June 1966
Genre Pop-Rock
Length 2:06
Label Parlophone (UK)
Capitol (U.S.
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The Beatles were an English musical group from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music.
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