Writing Powerful Dorian Dad Rock in 6/8
Writing a wistful and rocking song in Dorian turned into a cross between Metallica and Bob Seger. Part 2 of "Riffing with Modes"
By Jake Lizzio · Signals Music Studio · 700,000+ subscribers on YouTube
Dorian is the key to some of history's best "dad rock." I tried my best to create an authentic Bob Seger / Bon Jovi / Metallica song by wielding those seven notes, and here was the result.
We'll explore the chords "in Dorian," and how it creates that wistful sound, but more importantly I focus on how to arrange Dorian chords into something that actually sounds like modern music. This means layering instruments, and even singing which I don't do often. However, this song fits right into my range.
If you are unfamiliar with Dorian in general, do check out my starter lesson on the topic.
And if you enjoyed the song, you can download it below. Guitar tabs are also available for site members.