D Dorian mode on guitar
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.
| Note | D | E | F | G | A | B | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (D) | Dmhome | Dm7home |
| 2 (E) | Emcolour | Em7colour |
| ♭3 (F) | Fdaylight | Fmaj7daylight |
| 4 (G) | Gthe door | G7the door |
| 5 (A) | Amsoft fall | Am7soft fall |
| 6 (B) | Bdimthe edge | Bm7♭5the edge |
| ♭7 (C) | Cheroic | Cmaj7heroic |
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
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: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.