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dorian

A minor mode brightened by a natural sixth: the hopeful minor of modal jazz and funk.

Minor brightened by one note: it keeps the flat third of any minor but has a natural sixth where natural minor has a flat one, and that raised sixth is its whole character. The result is a minor that sounds hopeful rather than sad, the staple of modal jazz, funk, and groove-based music. Its characteristic note is that natural 6th.

Learn it: Modes

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