C Dorian mode on mandolin
The C Dorian mode has seven notes: C, D, E♭, F, G, A and B♭ (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.
| Note | C | D | E♭ | F | G | A | B♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ♭7 |
| Step to the next | whole | half | whole | whole | whole | half | whole |
3 positions to learn it in
Each stretch here is a few frets you can play without moving the hand: the open position, then from the root on the lowest string. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the C Dorian mode
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; C (Cm) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (C) | Cmhome | Cm7home |
| 2 (D) | Dmcolour | Dm7colour |
| ♭3 (E♭) | E♭daylight | E♭maj7daylight |
| 4 (F) | Fthe door | F7the door |
| 5 (G) | Gmsoft fall | Gm7soft fall |
| 6 (A) | Adimthe edge | Am7♭5the edge |
| ♭7 (B♭) | B♭heroic | B♭maj7heroic |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the B♭ major scale, started from its second note, C.
Questions
What notes are in the C Dorian mode?
C, D, E♭, F, G, A and B♭. 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 C Dorian mode?
The chords made only of its notes: Cm, Dm, E♭, F, Gm, Adim and B♭, and as seventh chords Cm7, Dm7, E♭maj7, F7, Gm7, Am7♭5 and B♭maj7. C is home: Cm is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Dorian mode in every key
Other scales in C
C majorC minorC minor pentatonicC major pentatonicC bluesC MixolydianC LydianC PhrygianC harmonic minorC melodic minorC Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: mandolin scales. This scale on guitar, bass, ukulele and banjo.