AEOLIAN AND DORIAN EXAMPLES:
EXAMPLE PROGRESSION 2: Dm to G major
By analyzing the chords we determine we are in the key of D minor. The progression is a I
minor chord to a IV major chord. Lay this progression down with a looper pedal or on your
computer. Play the chords a few measures each, with a slow laid back groove.
What Relates to all the chords:
- D Minor Pentatonic & Blues scales over all the chords. Remember that’s the default setting.
Since we are in the key of D minor with no major V chord, we know that D minor Pentatonic &
Blues will always work over all the chords all day long.
- D Dorian mode over both chords as it relates to all. By analyzing the progression we know it’s
a I minor to a IV major. Looking at our minor key rule for playing over all the chords we see
there is a IV major chord in this minor progression so we can play D Dorian mode over all the
chords. D Dorian is the same as C major, but you have to emphasize D notes to sound minor.
So play all the C major scales but remember to shift to the root of the mode, D. So start on and
emphasize the D notes and make that the tonal center. D Dorian = C Major.
Scale degrees 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 _
C major scale C D E F G A B C D
2
nd
mode – D Dorian D E F G A B C D
- Land on the hip chord tones when the changes come up.
- D minor chord contains the chord tones D-F-A
- G major chord contains the chord tones G-B-D
KEY POINT: Remember to examine the notes that make up each chord of
the progression to determine the hip landing notes when changing chords.