Can someone clarify something for me?

If I were to play A dorian, could I play that over either an A major chord or an A minor chord?

If not, could someone tell me which are major modes and which are minor?


Thanks a lot.

to answer your question it depends on the scale whether a mode has a major or minor feel to it. A dorian starts on the 2nd degree of the standard G major/ionian scale, so you would be playing Am. the basic modes for western music are as follows:
Ionian-major
Dorian-minor
Phyrigian-minor
Lydian-major
Mixolydian-major/dominant
Aeolian-minor
Locrian-diminished...i'm sure there is a ton of stuff about this on the internet or maybe check out the theory forum as well.

Folk say the Locrian is diminished but I think it is minor.
It has the minor of each degree.
But I suppose, each scale is given its feel by the chord you find in it.

Lydian Diminished for example. My favourite scale. The diminished chord can be found in it.



Same with Lydian Augmented and Lydian Dominant. Two modes of the Melodic Minor. You can find augmented and dominant in them.

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That is interesting. Maybe you could start a thread about finding chords within scales like this example and do some explanations. I'm very interested in knowing this. Thanks

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youd play it over a minor chord since dorian has a minor 3rd and a perfect fith

I may do just that.

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