The Dorian Mode is relative to the major scale but should not be learned within that relationship as it has its own identity. For example the scales of C Major and D Dorian seen relatively are:
- C Major – C . D . E . F . G . A . B . C
- D Dorian – D . E . F . G . A . B . C . D
Because of the tonal center shift the distances between the notes in the two scales become different as:
- C Major – Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Tone, Semitone
- D Dorian – Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone
The Dorian Mode is a minor mode with a raised 6th degree. If we view the D Dorian mode in relation to its parallel major:
- D Major – D . E . F# . G . A . B . C# . D
- D Dorian – D . E . F . G . A . B . C . D
The Dorian mode expressed in a number system as related to the Parallel Major would be:
- 1 – 2 – b3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – b7 – 1
The harmonization of a Dorian mode yields the following chords:
I – Minor II – Minor III – Major IV – Major V – Minor VI – diminished VII – Major
A strong melodic characteristic of the Dorian scale is the major 6th in a minor key which also yields the major IV chord in a minor key as:
- |D minor |G major |A minor |D minor |
The Dorian mode is a tonal mode because it has a I, IV and V chord built from tonic, subdominant and dominant.