D dorian chordson the mandolin

Common progressions

• i – ♭VII – i: Dm – C – Dm
• i – ♭VII – IV – i: Dm – C – G – Dm (the major IV is the dorian colour)
• i – ♭III – ♭VII – i: Dm – F – C – Dm (up to ♭III (C in A dorian) and home through ♭VII)

Basis: A count of 686 session tunes found A and E dorian 19%, against 3% for E and B minor (Brendan Power forum), so minor-sounding tunes are mostly dorian; the IV is major, and ♭VII leads home.

The seven chords in D dorian

1. i Dm2 0 0 1
2. ii Em0 2 2 0
3. ♭III F2 3 3 1
4. IV G0 0 2 3
5. v Am2 2 3 0
6. vi° Bdim4 0 2 1
7. ♭VII C0 2 3 0

Other modes on D

Other dorian keys

D dorian in other tunings

All Mandolin GDAE chords · Printable chart (PDF) · The app