Dorian Shuttle (i IV)
The Dorian shuttle is the chord progression i-IV. In the key of C minor it is Cm F, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1m 4.
It is also known as Dorian vamp.
Chords from outside the key of C minor: F.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
A minor tonic against a major IV. That IV contains the raised sixth, the note that separates Dorian from natural minor, so a two-chord loop is enough to establish the mode. It sounds minor but bright and funky, with no need to resolve.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oye Como Va | Santana | verse | Am7 D7 | A minor |
| Evil Ways | Santana | verse | Gm C | G minor |
| Uptown Funk | Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars | verse | Dm7 G7 | D minor |
| Groove Is in the Heart | Deee-Lite | verse | G#m7 C#7 | G# minor |
Dorian Shuttle: Chords and Audio in C, G, D, A and E
Press play to hear each key. The diagrams show the shapes used in the audio, and every chord links to its full page.
More progressions like this one
- Dorian i-bVII-IV: Cm Bb F
- Minor i-bIII-IV: Cm Eb F
- Dorian i-bIII-bVII-IV: Cm Eb Bb F
- Dorian i-ii vamp: Cm7 Dm7
All guitar chord progressions →
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the chords of the Dorian shuttle in each key?
In C minor: Cm F. In G minor: Gm C. In D minor: Dm G. In A minor: Am D. In E minor: Em A.
Which songs use the Dorian shuttle?
Songs that use it include Oye Como Va by Santana, Evil Ways by Santana, Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars.
