Bass · dorian

D Dorian mode on bass

The D Dorian mode has seven notes: D, E, F, G, A, B and C (1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7). A minor scale with a major 6th, which keeps it from sounding sad. The sound of minor funk, soul and jazz: play it over a m7 chord or a two-chord vamp like Am7 to D.

Key
Scale
The notes of the D Dorian mode
NoteDEFGABC
Interval1 (root)2♭3456♭7
Step to the nextwholehalfwholewholewholehalfwhole
Make a practice sheet of it
The whole neckevery D Dorian mode note from the nut to fret 15, the root a diamond
EADG135791215open2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭345

7 positions to learn it in

Played three notes on every string, the D Dorian mode has a position starting on each of its notes. They are good for speed, with the same picking pattern on every string. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.

Position 1frets 0–4
EADG135open2♭3456♭7R2♭3456
Position 2frets 1–5
EADG135open♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7
Position 3frets 3–7
EADG2357456♭7R2♭3456♭7R
Position 4frets 5–9
EADG457956♭7R2♭3456♭7R2
Position 5frets 7–10
EADG6796♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3
Position 6frets 8–12
EADG7912♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭34
Position 7frets 10–14
EADG91215R2♭3456♭7R2♭345

Chords that go with the D Dorian mode

The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; D (Dm) is where it sounds at home.

On theChordSeventh chord
root (D)DmhomeDm7home
2 (E)EmcolourEm7colour
♭3 (F)FdaylightFmaj7daylight
4 (G)Gthe doorG7the door
5 (A)Amsoft fallAm7soft fall
6 (B)Bdimthe edgeBm7♭5the edge
♭7 (C)CheroicCmaj7heroic

Scales with the same notes

It has the same notes as the C major scale, started from its second note, D.

Questions

What notes are in the D Dorian mode?

D, E, F, G, A, B and C. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7, and the steps between its notes are W H W W W H W (W a whole step, H a half step).

What chords go with the D Dorian mode?

The chords made only of its notes: Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim and C, and as seventh chords Dm7, Em7, Fmaj7, G7, Am7, Bm7♭5 and Cmaj7. D is home: Dm is the chord it sounds most settled over.

The Dorian mode in every key

CC♯DE♭EFF♯GG♯AB♭B

Other scales in D

D majorD minorD minor pentatonicD major pentatonicD bluesD MixolydianD LydianD PhrygianD harmonic minorD melodic minorD Phrygian dominant

Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: bass scales. This scale on guitar, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.