E Dorian mode on mandolin
The E Dorian mode has seven notes: E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯ and D (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 | E | F♯ | G | A | B | C♯ | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ♭7 |
| Step to the next | whole | half | whole | whole | whole | half | whole |
2 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 E Dorian mode
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; E (Em) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (E) | Emhome | Em7home |
| 2 (F♯) | F♯mcolour | F♯m7colour |
| ♭3 (G) | Gdaylight | Gmaj7daylight |
| 4 (A) | Athe door | A7the door |
| 5 (B) | Bmsoft fall | Bm7soft fall |
| 6 (C♯) | C♯dimthe edge | C♯m7♭5the edge |
| ♭7 (D) | Dheroic | Dmaj7heroic |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the D major scale, started from its second note, E.
Questions
What notes are in the E Dorian mode?
E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯ and D. 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 E Dorian mode?
The chords made only of its notes: Em, F♯m, G, A, Bm, C♯dim and D, and as seventh chords Em7, F♯m7, Gmaj7, A7, Bm7, C♯m7♭5 and Dmaj7. E is home: Em is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Dorian mode in every key
Other scales in E
E majorE minorE minor pentatonicE major pentatonicE bluesE MixolydianE LydianE PhrygianE harmonic minorE melodic minorE 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.