Chords in E Dorian

E Dorian is built from the notes E, F#, G, A, B, C# and D. Its scale carries 2 sharps. Harmonising that scale in thirds gives seven chords — 3 majors, 3 minors and 1 diminished — starting on Em as the i. The chord on the fifth degree is Bm rather than a major V, so E Dorian has no leading tone and resolves by step and colour instead of by dominant pull — the sound that separates it from a plain E major.

Beyond those seven, E Dorian commonly borrows E (I), G#m (iii), A (IV), B (V) and C#m (vi) from the parallel major — the mixture chords that give a progression somewhere unexpected to go.