stringery

A dorian

Minor with a brighter 6th: funk, jazz and Santana. Minor 7 family

Minor but hopeful. Cool and groovy.

Root position2 of 5

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Square: the root. In colour: the 6th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. ARW
  2. B2H
  3. C♭3W
  4. D4W
  5. E5W
  6. F♯6H
  7. G♭7W

It is natural minor with the 6th raised one fret, which takes the sadness out and leaves the cool.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckA dorian

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12345EADGBE3579121556♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭345♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7

Position 2 is outlined, frets 4 to 8. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The A dorian key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. Ami
  2. Bmii
  3. CIII
  4. DIV
  5. Emv
  6. F♯dimvi°
  7. GVII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • G major

    Same notes, but home is G: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • E minor

    Same notes, but home is E: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • D mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is D: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • C lydian

    Same notes, but home is C: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • B phrygian

    Same notes, but home is B: dark, spanish, menacing.