Dorian mode
The early Catholic Church developed a system of eight musical modes to which medieval music scholars gave names derived from the ancient Greek. The second of these is the Dorian. It is similar to the natural minor scale, except that the sixth note is sharpened:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| C | Db | D | Eb | E | F | Gb | G | Ab | A | Bb | B |
Although this might sound a little obscure, the changed note makes quite a difference. You’ll find it in Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water and the traditional Scarborough Fair.
Here’s my example, which is in E minor. The riff played by the guitar at the beginning makes the scale quite obvious.
Instruments on Carmen:
Guitar, trumpet, percussion: Kontakt library from Native Instruments
Bass: VB-Mellow from ujam
Strings: Session Strings Pro from Native Instruments
Drums: Studio Drummer from Native Instruments
Another example is The Old Tide Mills, in which the flute uses the Dorian mode for the melody of the verse, above a G minor drone. This is really what gives the piece its Celtic feel. The scale is modified in the chorus, as the Cm and D chords would clash with the Dorian mode.
Instruments on The Old Tide Mills:
Flute: Passion Flute from Orange Tree Samples
Drone pad: Cloud Supply from Native Instruments
Percussion: Damage 2 from Heavyocity
Acoustic Guitar: Session Guitarist Picked Acoustic from Native Instruments
Strings: Novo Essentials from Heavyocity
String pad: Arkhis from Native Instruments
I’ve found another, which I’d like to share because it’s the only track I’ve produced with whistling in it!
Instruments on Guajillo:
Synth bass, bongos: Kontakt library from Native Instruments
Lead synth and pad: Massive from Native Instruments
Drums: VD-Eden from ujam
Flute: ROLI Studio Player
Whistling: Vienna Whistler from Vienna Symphonic Library