Dorian Harmony

See also Dorian Shuttles (e.g. i - IV, i - ii).

1) Imagine Dragons, “Monster,” Prechorus
From Infinity Blade III (2013), written by Ben McKee, Daniel Platzman, Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, and Alexander Grant.

Audio: Youtube (0:53–1:03)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Fm | A♭ | E♭ | B♭ | (x2)

Fm A♭

If I told you what I was,

E♭ B♭

Would you turn your back on me?

Fm A♭

And if I seem dangerous,

E♭ B♭

Would you be scared?

2) Gary Jules, “Mad World,” Verse & Prechorus

(2001) written by Ronald Orzabal; covered by Micharl Andrews and Gary Jules

Audio (Verse) : Youtube: 0:11–0:33
Audio (Prechorus) : Youtube: 0:55–1:11
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Fm | A♭ | E♭ |B♭ | (x2)
| Fm | B♭ | Fm | B♭ | (x2)

[Verse]

Fm A♭

All around me are familiar faces

E♭ B♭

Worn out places, worn out faces

[Prechorus]

Fm B♭ Fm

And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad

B♭

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best

Fm

I've ever had

3) Green Day, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” verse
From American Idiot (2004), written by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool

Audio: Youtube (0:35–0:50)
Harmonic Rhythm: | Em G | D A | (x2)

Em G

I walk a lonely road,

D A Em

the only one that I have ever known

G

Don't know where it goes,

D A Em

but it's home to me and I walk alone

4) Joss Whedon, Title Theme from the TV series Firefly, mm. 17–21

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (0:35–0:52)

5) Lady Gaga, “Telephone,” chorus

From The Fame Monster (2009), written by LaShawn Daniels, Beyoncé, Lazonate Franklin, Rodney Jerkins & Lady Gaga

Score: Image
Audio: Youtube (0:46–1:03)

6) Muse, “Psycho,” verse

From Drones (2015), written by Matt Bellamy

Audio: Youtube (1:14–1:45)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Dm | F | C | G | (x2)

Dm

Love, it will get you nowhere

F C

You are on your own

G

Lost in the wild

Dm

So come to me now

I could use someone like you

F C G

Someone who'll kill on my command

7) Selena Gomez, “Good for You,” chorus

From Revival (2015), written by Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter, Nick Monson, Nolan Lambroza, Rakim Mayers (ASAP Rocky), Hector Delgado, Selena Gomez.

Audio: Youtube (1:37–1:59)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Fm | A♭ |B♭ | F E♭ | (x2)

Fm

Cause I just wanna look good for you, good

A♭

for you, oh oh

B♭

I just wanna look good for you, good for

Fm E♭

you, oh oh

8) Santana, “Evil Ways,” verse

From Santana (1969), written by Clarence “Sonny” Henry

Score: Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:19–0:55)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Gm7 |: Gm7 C :| (x12)
|D7 | D7 | Gm7 C | Gm7 |

Gm7 C Gm7 C

You've got to change your evil ways. . . ba-by.

Gm7 C Gm7 C

before I stop loving you.

C Gm7 C Gm7 C

You've go to change . . . ba-by.

Gm 7 C Gm7 C

And every word that I say, is true.

C Gm7 C

You've got me running and hiding,

Gm7 C

all over town.

C Gm7 C

You've got me sneaking and peeping,

Gm7 C

and running you down.

C D7

This can't go on . . .

Gm7 C Gm7

Lord knows you got to change . . . ba-by.

9) Steppenwolf, “Born to be Wild,” verse, chorus

From Steppenwolf (1968), written by Mars Bonfire

Scores: Image: MuseScore, PDF
Audio: Youtube (0:12–0:40)

10) Chic, “Le Freak,” chorus

From C'est Chic (1978), written by Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards

Audio: Youtube (0:01–0:08)
Harmonic Rhythm: | Am | D C | (x2)

Am

Aaahh freak out!

D C

Le freak, c'est Chic

Am D C

Freak out!

11) Kansas, “Dust in the Wind,” chorus
From Point of Know Return (1978), written by Kerry Livgren

Scores: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:41-0:51)

12) Elton John, “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” verse

From Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973), written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Scores: Image, PDF, MuseScore
Audio: Youtube (0:13-0:25)

13) Green Day, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” verse

From American Idiot (2004), written by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool

Audio: Youtube (0:35–0:50)
Harmonic Rhythm (student):
| Em G | D A | (x2)

Em G

I walk a lonely road,

D A

the only one that I have ever known

Em G

Don't know where it goes,

D A Em

but it's home to me and I walk alone

14) Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra,” refrain

From Mayhem (2025), written by Lady Gaga, watt, Cirkut, Siouxsie, John McGeoch, Steven Severin & Budgie

Scores: Image File, MuseScore, PDF
Audio: Youtube (0:53–1:10)

15) Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra,” chorus

From Mayhem (2025), written by Lady Gaga, watt, Cirkut, Siouxsie, John McGeoch, Steven Severin & Budgie

Scores: Image File, MuseScore, PDF
Audio: Youtube (1:23–1:42)

16) Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso,” chorus

From Short n' Sweet (2025), written by Sabrina Carpenter, Julian Bunetta, Amy Allen & Steph

Audio: Youtube: 0:08–0:28
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Dm7 | Em7 Am7| (x4)

Dm7 Em7

Now he's thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh

Am7 Dm7

Is it that sweet? I guess so

Em7

Say you can't sleep, baby, I know

Am7 Dm7

That's that me, espresso

Em7

Move it up, down, left, right, oh

Am7 Dm7

Switch it up like Nintendo

Em7

Say you can't sleep, baby, I know

Am7

That's that me, espresso

Additional Examples

Yale Musical Examples Database: See the "Harmonic/Scale" tab at the bottom.