3rd Position: The Blues and More!

 

3rd position uses the Dorian scale (also known as the Dorian mode).  This Scale is familiar in rock, blues, jazz and other forms of music.   It has a tonal color of minor and the pentatonic blues scale at its center.

 

Dorian is one of the 7 church modes which employ the notes found in the C major scale, known as the Ionian mode.  These modes were used in early music up until the end of the Renaissance.  Put simply they use the 7 notes of the C major scale, but vary the tonic or root note.   2nd position on the diatonic uses the Mixolydian mode, or the C major scale with G as the tonic.   The Aeolian mode, which uses A for it's tonic, is what we know as the natural minor scale.  If you play piano at all, it means: just use the white keys!  These scale step intervals can be transposed to any key.

 

Dorian is simply a major scale using the Second tone as it's tonic note.  For the C major scale, D is the Dorian root.  In scale steps:  whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half, whole.

 

      C Major - C  D  E  F  G  A  B  (C)

      D Dorian -  D  E  F  G  A  B   C  (D)

 

Begin by simply playing up and down the Dorian scale steps from 1 to 7 to 1.  Try this scale out a few times and get a feel for it's color, apprehension, pinnacle and resolve. 

 

Below is a configuration of the diatonic harp's note locations and corresponding scale steps for the C Major scale ( for reference ) and the D Dorian scale.

 

            C diatonic harp                                  

     

C	E	G	C	E	G	C	E	G	C
D	G	B	D	F	A	B	D	F	A

 

 

      

            C Major scale steps

 

1	3	5	1	3	5	1	3	5	1
2	5	7	2	4	6	7	2	4	6

     

 

 

 

            D Dorian scale steps  (blues notes bold)

     

7	2	4	7	2	4	7	2	4	7
1	4	6	1	3	5	6	1	3	5

 

 

 

 

Once you've developed a feel for the nature of this scale, see if you can play some blues riffs or work out a simple melody.  ( Please note: while chords are available and usable, our focus here is on single note melody. )

 

Focus now on the pentatonic/blues scale:  D  F  G  A  C   on the C harp, or scale steps 1  3  4  5  7.   The Pentatonic or Blues scale is at the very center of the Dorian mode.  If looked at from the point of view of the tonic note's Major scale, it would consist of: 1, 3b,  4,  5b,  7,  (1)  or in tone intervals from the tonic: 1 1/2, 1, 1, 1 1/2, 1.  In the Dorian scale the pentatonic scale is the 1,  3,  4,  5,  7; in scale steps.  Translated to piano keys; use D# for the tonic and only play the black keys.

 

Begin playing these notes against a simple 12 bar blues in D and work on accenting and tonal control. - ( Starting from C to the tonic D is a nice lead in. )   You'll find a nice 1/2 step bend on A, or the 5th Dorian scale step, which produces that very nice "blue" note.

 

Sticking with the pentatonic scale (ok throw in that A to Ab bend), in just the mid area of the harp you'll be able to do some fun blues improvisation.  Be daring though and employ the upper register of your harp, use the maps above to manage your way.  Yes, everything seems to go backwards on the upper register, but just a little practice will make you a master of this too.

                       

As you become familiar and proficient with this scale, take note of some other bending possibilities:  bend scale step 6 down 1 whole step ( hole #3 or B to A )....  Once you've mastered the pentatonic scale begin using the remaining notes in the Dorian scale ( E  B  G ) to color, lead-in and create tension.

 

A great tune which employs the Dorian scale is Scarborough Fair:

 

Are  you  going  to  Scarborough  Fair,  parsley,  sage  rosemary  and  thyme...

 D   D    A   A  A   E    F   E    D     A    C     D    C  A   B   G   A

 

 

Thyme to practice!   Thank you for this opportunity to share what I've learned and encourage your playing abilities.

 

note: if, like myself, your only C harp is the gold Marine Band on display below is a Dorian scale step outline.

 

           

 

      D harp/E Dorian;  E/F,  F/G,  G/A,  A/E  B/C#...  C/G