Guitar · dorian

C Dorian mode on guitar

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.

Key
Scale
The notes of the C Dorian mode
NoteCDE♭FGAB♭
Interval1 (root)2♭3456♭7
Step to the nextwholehalfwholewholewholehalfwhole
Make a practice sheet of it
The whole neckevery C Dorian mode note from the nut to fret 15, the root a diamond
EADGBE135791215open456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2456♭7R2♭345

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.

A shapefrets 2–6
EADGBE23556♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7
G shapefrets 4–8
EADGBE4576♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3♭3456♭7R
E shapefrets 7–10
EADGBE79R2456♭7R2♭3456R2
D shapefrets 10–13
EADGBE9122♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭34
C shapefrets 12–15
EADGBE1215456♭7R2♭3456♭7R245

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 theChordSeventh chord
root (C)CmhomeCm7home
2 (D)DmcolourDm7colour
♭3 (E♭)E♭daylightE♭maj7daylight
4 (F)Fthe doorF7the door
5 (G)Gmsoft fallGm7soft fall
6 (A)Adimthe edgeAm7♭5the edge
♭7 (B♭)B♭heroicB♭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

CC♯DE♭EFF♯GG♯AB♭B

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: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.