A Dorian mode on guitar
The A Dorian mode has seven notes: A, B, C, D, E, F♯ and G (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 | A | B | C | D | E | F♯ | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ♭7 |
| Step to the next | whole | half | whole | whole | whole | half | whole |
5 positions to learn it in
On guitar a seven-note scale is learnt in five shapes, each built round one of the open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D. Together they cover the neck. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the A Dorian mode
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; A (Am) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (A) | Amhome | Am7home |
| 2 (B) | Bmcolour | Bm7colour |
| ♭3 (C) | Cdaylight | Cmaj7daylight |
| 4 (D) | Dthe door | D7the door |
| 5 (E) | Emsoft fall | Em7soft fall |
| 6 (F♯) | F♯dimthe edge | F♯m7♭5the edge |
| ♭7 (G) | Gheroic | Gmaj7heroic |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the G major scale, started from its second note, A.
Questions
What notes are in the A Dorian mode?
A, B, C, D, E, F♯ and G. 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 A Dorian mode?
The chords made only of its notes: Am, Bm, C, D, Em, F♯dim and G, and as seventh chords Am7, Bm7, Cmaj7, D7, Em7, F♯m7♭5 and Gmaj7. A is home: Am is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Dorian mode in every key
Other scales in A
A majorA minorA minor pentatonicA major pentatonicA bluesA MixolydianA LydianA PhrygianA harmonic minorA melodic minorA Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.