The **Dorian mode** is the second of the [[modes of the major scale]]: the scale that begins on the second note of a major scale, like the white keys from D to D. Its pattern of [[half steps and whole steps]] is W–H–W–W–W–H–W. Compared with the [[major scale]], Dorian lowers $\hat{3}$ and $\hat{7}$. It differs from [[natural minor scale|natural minor]] by a single note: its $\hat{6}$ is a half step higher. **Example 1** below shows C Dorian, with scale-degree numbers above and [[solfège]] syllables below (*do*, *re*, *me*, *fa*, *sol*, *la*, *te*). ![[example modes of the major scale dorian.png]] **Example 1.** C Dorian mode. ![[example modes of the major scale dorian.mp3]]