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The
Modes of the Melodic Minor Scale - The Dorian
b2 Mode
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Published
May 14th, 2003. © Chris Juergensen/chrisjuergensen.com.
All Rights Reserved.
This
lesson has been revised and published in THE
INFINITE GUITAR. Info
>>>
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The
Dorian b2 Scale -This is a super exotic sounding
mode of the melodic minor scale. Even though the
name of this mode is the dorian b2 mode, it generally
does not replace the dorian mode. It is used as
a replacement for the phrygian mode. Although
it is technically a minor family scale, just like
its cousin the phrygian mode, it works best over
a b9sus chord.
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| Melodic
minor scale patterns: |
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Pattern
1
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Pattern
2
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Pattern
3
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Pattern
4
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Pattern
5
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| Review
time. These are all the modes of the melodic minor
scale. This lesson will deal with the third mode,
the lydian augmented mode. |
| 1.
Melodic Minor |
| 2.
Dorian b2 mode |
| 3.
Lydian Augmented mode |
| 4.
Lydian Dominant mode |
| 5.
Mixolydian b6 mode |
| 6.
Locrian #2 mode |
| 7.
Altered mode
(sometimes called the Super Locrian mode) |
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| Examine
the chart below. By checking the very bottom column
of the chart you can find out what chord the mode
works for. Ex. the G dorian b2 mode is the same
as the F melodic minor scale and technically works
over an Gmin7 chord. The truth though, is that this
mode works better over a b9sus chord. |
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melodic
minor
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dorian
b2
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lydian
augmented
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lydian
dominant
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mixolydian
b6
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locrian
#2
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altered
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Bb
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C
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Db
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Eb
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F
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G
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A
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F
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G
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Ab
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Bb
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C
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D
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E
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C
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D
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Eb
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F
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G
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A
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B
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G
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A
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Bb
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C
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D
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E
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F#
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D
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E
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F
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G
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A
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B
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C#
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min/maj7
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min7
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maj7#5
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7
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7
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min7b5
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altered
7
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The
dorian b2 mode
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name tells you exactly what it is; a dorian scale
with a lowered 2nd. You can also think of this mode
as a Phrygian with a major or raised 6th. Unlike
the Phrygian mode, the dorian b2 mode contains a
major 6th so you can construct a 13(b9sus) chord
from it. |
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| Chords
from the dorian b2 mode: b9sus, 7(b9sus), 13(b9sus).
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Compare
the mixolydian and Phrygian scale to the dorian
b2 scale below and check out the differences.
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G
mixolydian
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G
Phrygian
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G
dorian b2
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| This
mode of the melodic minor scale is perfect for a
13(b9sus) or (b9sus) chord but can also be used
over a minor chord that does not contain a 9th.
The rule to remember: dorian b2 = melodic minor
scale down a major 2nd. |
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| Test
time. Get out your pencil and paper and then check
your answers down at the bottom. |
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Test
| 1. |
G
dorian b2 = ? mm |
6. |
F#
dorian b2 = ? mm |
| 2. |
A
dorian b2 = ? mm |
7. |
B
dorian b2 = ? mm |
| 3. |
E
dorian b2 = ? mm |
8. |
D
dorian b2 = ? mm |
| 4. |
F
dorian b2 = ? mm |
9. |
Bb
dorian b2 = ? mm |
| 5. |
C
dorian b2 = ? mm |
10. |
D#
dorian b2 = ? mm |
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First get used to the sound of the dorian b2 mode
by playing over a static G(b9sus) or G13(b9sus)
chord using a F melodic minor scale. When you're
ready, go on and try improvising over the following
chord progression. Use a G dorian b2 scale (F melodic
minor) over the G (b9sus)chord, a C dorian scale
(Bb major) over the Cmin9 chord and a A dorian scale
(G major) over the Amin11 chord. Feel free to replace
the G(b9sus) with a G13(b9sus) chord. |
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I'll
end the melodic minor modes with the dorian b2
mode. There is still one more mode, the mixolydian
b6 mode but it is seldom used and not worth dedicating
a whole lesson to. Feel free to experiment with
it, you may have more success with it than I have.
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Test
Answers
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| 1. |
F
mm |
6. |
E
mm |
| 2. |
G
mm |
7. |
A
mm |
| 3. |
D
mm |
8. |
C
mm |
| 4. |
Eb
mm |
9. |
Abmm
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| 5. |
Bb
mm |
10. |
C#
mm |
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