Funk · Intermediate · minor key

Dorian vamp (i–IV)

i7 – IV9 — The major IV in a minor key is the Dorian signature — funky, Latin and soulful.

Chord shapes in B minor (standard tuning)

Using a different tuning? Open it in the Looper — it finds playable shapes for whatever tuning you choose.

How the chords work

Written in Roman numerals, this progression is i7 – IV9 — in A minor that is Am7 – D9. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.

• i7 — the minor home chord.
• IV9 — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.

Dorian vamp (i–IV) in all 12 keys

Songs that use it

• Oye Como Va — Tito Puente / Santana
• Evil Ways — Santana

Song examples use this progression (or a very close variant) in at least one main section; keys and voicings differ.

Practice ideas

• Beginners: play one strum per chord and say the chord names out loud, then two strums, then a steady down-down-up-up-down-up pattern.
• Change keys with a capo: keep the B minor shapes and move a capo up — the capo calculator shows which fret gives the key you want.
• Solo over it: loop it in the Looper and improvise with the B minor pentatonic or B natural minor or B blues scale — the scale pages show every position and play a backing track.
• Train your ear: the progression ear trainer mixes this with similar progressions until you can tell them apart.

Similar progressions

• i–♭VII–IV–i (Dorian) i – ♭VII – IV – i
• i–♭III–♭VII–IV i – ♭III – ♭VII – IV
• i–IV–i–♭VII (Dorian rock) i – IV – i – ♭VII
• "House of the Rising Sun" progression i – ♭III – IV – ♭VI – i – ♭III – V – V
• "Hotel California" progression i – V – ♭VII – IV – ♭VI – ♭III – iv – V
• Funky 9th-chord blues I9 – IV9 – I9 – I9 – IV9 – IV9 – I9 – I9 – V9 – IV9 – I9 – V9

← Minor i–iv · i–♭III–♭VII–IV →

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Questions