Dorian vamp (i–IV) (i7 – IV7 – i7 – IV7)
Alternating minor tonic and major IV: the signature funky, Latin color of the Dorian mode.
In A Dorian
In all 12 keys
Mode: Dorian. The capo column shows the fret where most chords become easy open shapes.
| Key | Chords | Capo |
|---|---|---|
| C Dorian | Cm7 – F7 – Cm7 – F7 | 3. |
| C♯ Dorian | C♯m7 – F♯7 – C♯m7 – F♯7 | 4. |
| D Dorian | Dm7 – G7 – Dm7 – G7 | – |
| E♭ Dorian | E♭m7 – A♭7 – E♭m7 – A♭7 | 1. |
| E Dorian | Em7 – A7 – Em7 – A7 | – |
| F Dorian | Fm7 – B♭7 – Fm7 – B♭7 | 1. |
| F♯ Dorian | F♯m7 – B7 – F♯m7 – B7 | 2. |
| G Dorian | Gm7 – C7 – Gm7 – C7 | 3. |
| G♯ Dorian | G♯m7 – C♯7 – G♯m7 – C♯7 | 4. |
| A Dorian | Am7 – D7 – Am7 – D7 | – |
| B♭ Dorian | B♭m7 – E♭7 – B♭m7 – E♭7 | 1. |
| B Dorian | Bm7 – E7 – Bm7 – E7 | 2. |
Similar progressions
All chord progressions
- Pop progression (Axis)
- Sensitive pop (vi–IV–I–V)
- ’50s progression (doo-wop)
- Royal road (J-pop)
- Canon progression
- Circle-of-fifths progression
- Authentic cadence (I–IV–V–I)
- Folk and country
- ii–V–I (jazz)
- Turnaround (I–vi–ii–V)
- Minor ii–V–i
- 12-bar blues
- 12-bar blues, quick change
- Three-chord punk
- Mixolydian rock (I–♭VII–IV)
- ♭VI–♭VII–I (victory cadence)
- Andalusian cadence
- Epic minor (i–VI–III–VII)
- Minor cadence (i–iv–V–i)
- Minor ballad (i–VII–VI–VII)
- Dorian vamp (i–IV)
- Major-to-minor IV (I–iii–IV–iv)
Frequently asked questions
What are the chords of the Dorian vamp (i–IV) in A Dorian?
Am7 – D7 – Am7 – D7 (i7 – IV7 – i7 – IV7).
Which key is easiest on guitar?
With only open chords and no capo: D Dorian, E Dorian, A Dorian. For other keys, the capo column in the table shows where to clamp it.
What do the Roman numerals mean?
The degrees of the key: I = tonic (1st degree), IV = 4th, V = 5th. Upper case is a major chord, lower case minor; ° means diminished, ø half-diminished and ♭ a lowered degree. That's what lets you move the progression to any key.
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