The Dorian mode

II V Chord Pairs in Music

In preparation for the next tune, we're going to look at some II V chord pairs. These are pairs of chords that don't resolve like a typical II V I. Instead, they go somewhere else.

Example: Satin Doll

For instance, there are many tunes where you have strings of II Vs without the I chord.

• Example: Satin Doll
  • D minor → G7
  • Instead of going to C, it goes to E minor, A7.
  • And then, it doesn't resolve as you'd expect; it goes to A minor.

In the first eight bars of the tune, you have four different II V pairs, none of which are actually a II V I.

This is something you really need to get used to and be prepared for.

Understanding II V Pairs

It's worth noting that when you have a II V pair, because they are in the same key, you can use one scale over both chords.

• The easiest scale to start with is the one that corresponds with the first chord: the Dorian scale.

For D minor 7 and G7:

• You can play the white notes as it happens, looping the D minor scale:
  • Start on D and go up to D.
  • This will fit the G7 chord as well, you don't need to make any changes.

Practicing with Satin Doll

For Satin Doll, if you're using Dorian scales, you'd need four of them.

Example Tune in G Minor

We're going to do a tune in G minor, which will be in 3/4 time.

• Tune: Wolf's
  • It starts out with G minor and C7.

To get used to that, we could try our G minor Dorian scale:

1. 3/4 Loop:
   • One, two, three.
   • One, two, three.
   • One, two, three.
   • One, two, three.

This goes from G to E and back with the chords.

Additional Practice

• The tune also goes to E minor and A7, in addition to G minor and C7.

You might want to practice that little routine over E minor as well.