stringery

D dorian

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

Minor but hopeful. Cool and groovy.

Root position4 of 5

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

Built from

  1. DRW
  2. E2H
  3. F♭3W
  4. G4W
  5. A5W
  6. B6H
  7. C♭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 neckD dorian

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12345EADGBE357912152♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭34

Position 4 is outlined, frets 9 to 13. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The D dorian key

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

  1. Dmi
  2. Emii
  3. FIII
  4. GIV
  5. Amv
  6. Bdimvi°
  7. CVII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • C major

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

  • A minor

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

  • G mixolydian

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

  • F lydian

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

  • E phrygian

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