(MED. SWING ♩=80)
77

Jazz Piano · The m7 Scale

Dorian Mode

1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – ♭7 — the modal-jazz minor, twelve keys

Dorian is the 2nd mode of major — minor scale with a natural 6th (raised from aeolian's ♭6). C dorian: C D E♭ F G A B♭ C. The natural 6 is the scale's defining colour, distinguishing it from aeolian or phrygian.

Used over m7 chords in modal jazz (So What, Impressions, Cantaloupe Island) and as the natural ii-chord scale in any ii-V-I. The neutrality of the natural 6 makes it the default m7 scale — no leading tones pulling toward a tonic, no sharp dissonance with the chord underneath.

Now 2 octaves, both hands — the same pattern extended up and back with fingering marked above every note in each hand.

Intervals

1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – ♭7. Minor with natural 6.

Use

Over m7. The modal-jazz default.

01

C minor

1 3 1 2 1 X 3fr C m 7 C m 7 1 3 1 2 1 X 3fr
02

F minor

1 3 1 1 1 1 F m 7 1 3 1 1 1 1 F m 7
03

B♭ minor

B m 7 1 3 1 2 1 X 1 3 1 2 1 X B m 7
04

E♭ minor

E m 7 1 2 3 4 X X 1 2 3 4 X X E m 7
05

A♭ minor

1 3 1 1 1 1 4fr A m 7 1 3 1 1 1 1 4fr A m 7
06

C♯ minor

C m 7 4 2 1 X O O 4 2 1 X O O C m 7
07

F♯ minor

F m 7 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 F m 7
08

B minor

1 3 1 2 1 X B m 7 1 3 1 2 1 X B m 7
09

E minor

2 O O O O O E m 7 2 O O O O O E m 7
10

A minor

2 1 X O O O A m 7 A m 7 2 1 X O O O
11

D minor

D m 7 2 1 1 X X O D m 7 2 1 1 X X O
12

G minor

1 3 1 1 1 1 3fr G m 7 G m 7 1 3 1 1 1 1 3fr

The minor with the natural 6. Half of modal jazz lives in this single scale.

80 bpm
Sound