Funky Dorian Piano Groove: Master the Off-Beats (Part 1)

To play a funky Dorian groove on piano, keep a steady root pulse in the left hand while the right hand plays A Dorian chords first on the beats, then on the off-beats, then in 16th-note, funky eighth-note and swung patterns.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Intermediate · 20 min

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This is Part 1 of a three-part series by Jason Zac of Nathaniel School of Music on playing drum-like grooves on the piano. It suits pianists who know basic triads and want better hand independence and a stronger feel for off-beats. The left hand stays simple and constant while the right hand creates the groove, all using chords from the Dorian mode.

The Theory: A Dorian and Its Chords

Dorian is the mode built on the second degree of the major scale. A Dorian is the second mode of G major: A B C D E F# G. Compared with a major scale it has a flat 3, a natural 6 and a flat 7. Compared with A natural minor (all white notes), Dorian simply raises the sixth degree, F becoming F#.

The triads available in A Dorian are:

• i A minor (A C E)
• ii B minor (B D F#)
• bIII C major (C E G)
• IV D major (D F# A), which can also become D7
• v E minor (E G B)
• vi° F# diminished (F# A C)
• bVII G major (G B D)

The IV major chord swinging back to i minor is the signature Dorian movement.

The Left Hand: A Constant Pulse

The left hand plays a quarter-note pulse on the root, A, using an octave. Either strike both notes of the octave together on every beat, or toggle between the low root and the octave above with the pinky and thumb. The left hand never changes, even when the chords do. That steady pulse is what makes the approach drum-like.

Step 1: Chord Progression and Inversions

The first progression is A minor, G major, D major, A minor (i, bVII, IV, i), voiced so the right hand climbs downward:

1. A minor in root position (A C E)
2. G major with D on top (G B D)
3. D major with D on top (F# A D)
4. A minor in second inversion with C on top (E A C)

The top notes move E, D, D, C. Count two bars of four and play the chords on the beats as minims. Then practise starting from other shapes, such as second inversion A minor (E A C) moving to D G B, D F# A and C E A, and also from the first-inversion shape of A minor.

Step 2: Moving to the Off-Beats

Count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. Now place the right-hand chords on the ands instead of the beats, or on alternate ands. Try playing everything off the beat except beat 1, then move even beat 1 off. Playing a chord a half-beat early is rhythmic anticipation; playing it a half-beat late, for example landing on 3-and instead of 3, is rhythmic delay. Keep the left-hand pulse rock-steady throughout, as the pulse is easy to lose here.

Step 3: A Taste of 16th Notes

Divide each beat into four and count 1 e and a, 2 e and a. Place chords on these finer subdivisions, such as around 3 e and a, 4 e. The 16th-note level is where funk and dance grooves live.

Step 4: A Funky Eighth-Note Groove

This groove uses A minor, B minor, C major, B minor with many hits on the ands against the faithful left-hand pulse. Snap or clap the rhythm first, then play it slowly. For variety, a second cycle can use A minor, G major, D major over F#, D major and back to A minor. You can also play C, B minor, A minor, G, D and A minor all over an A in the bass as slash chords.

Step 5: A Swung Broken-Chord Groove

Swing the eighth notes over A minor, G major, D major, A minor, breaking each chord up instead of striking it whole. Rather than just rocking between one note and the other two, hold part of the chord down while the rest repeats. This sounds especially good on an electric piano sound with sustain. Try 16th-note swing too, and start from different inversions.

How to Practise

• Learn the Dorian triads first.
• Master each inversion exercise on the beats before moving off them.
• Count aloud and keep the left hand constant at all times.
• Go slowly, then build up speed once the hands feel independent.

Questions about this lesson

What is the Dorian mode on piano?

Dorian is the mode starting on the second degree of a major scale. A Dorian uses the notes A B C D E F# G, which is A natural minor with a raised sixth.

What chords are in A Dorian?

A minor, B minor, C major, D major, E minor, F# diminished and G major. The D major (IV) moving back to A minor (i) is the characteristic Dorian sound.

How do I play off-beats on the piano without losing time?

Keep the left hand playing a steady quarter-note pulse on the root, count 1 and 2 and aloud, and place right-hand chords on the ands. Start by keeping beat 1 on the beat, then move it off once you are steady.

What is the difference between rhythmic anticipation and rhythmic delay?

Anticipation plays a chord a subdivision earlier than expected, while delay plays it a subdivision later, such as landing on 3-and instead of beat 3.

Practise it

• Groove MetronomeWork with tempo, accents and polyrhythms instead of a single unchanging click.
• Swing GardenWork with straight and swung rhythm in an interactive teaching workspace.
• Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
• All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.

Related lessons

• Chic's Good Times on Piano: The Disco Groove for Both HandsTo play Chic's Good Times on piano, put the bass guitar line in your left hand, counted in sixteenths around E and A from the E Dorian scale, and play rootless Em7 (B D G) and A (C# F# A) voicings with short licks in your right hand, without sustain pedal.
• Left-Hand Independence on Piano: The Starter ExerciseTo build left-hand independence on piano, hold the bass note G down with your left little finger while your other fingers play a swung eighth-note broken G minor chord pattern, then move only the little finger between G and F while the rest of the chord stays the same.
• Piano Hand Independence: The Exercise That Finally WorksTo build piano hand independence, play the first five notes of C minor (C D Eb F G) up and down in both hands, keeping one hand on the pulse while the other divides each beat by two, three or four, then swap hands.
• 10 Rhythm Patterns That Make Chord Inversions EasyTo make chord inversions musical, play the root position, first inversion and second inversion of a triad such as Bb major or C major through real rhythm patterns like block chords, oom-pah, waltz, broken chords, arpeggios, the tresillo, the Charleston, dual-speed arpeggios and floating inversions.