G Dorian mode on guitar
The G Dorian mode has seven notes: G, A, B♭, C, D, E and F (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 | G | A | B♭ | C | D | E | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 G Dorian mode
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; G (Gm) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (G) | Gmhome | Gm7home |
| 2 (A) | Amcolour | Am7colour |
| ♭3 (B♭) | B♭daylight | B♭maj7daylight |
| 4 (C) | Cthe door | C7the door |
| 5 (D) | Dmsoft fall | Dm7soft fall |
| 6 (E) | Edimthe edge | Em7♭5the edge |
| ♭7 (F) | Fheroic | Fmaj7heroic |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the F major scale, started from its second note, G.
Questions
What notes are in the G Dorian mode?
G, A, B♭, C, D, E and F. 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 G Dorian mode?
The chords made only of its notes: Gm, Am, B♭, C, Dm, Edim and F, and as seventh chords Gm7, Am7, B♭maj7, C7, Dm7, Em7♭5 and Fmaj7. G is home: Gm is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Dorian mode in every key
Other scales in G
G majorG minorG minor pentatonicG major pentatonicG bluesG MixolydianG LydianG PhrygianG harmonic minorG melodic minorG 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.