stringery

E dorian

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

Minor but hopeful. Cool and groovy.

Root position1 of 5

35791215

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

Built from

  1. ERW
  2. F♯2H
  3. G♭3W
  4. A4W
  5. B5W
  6. C♯6H
  7. D♭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 neckE dorian

12345EADGBE35791215R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭345♭7R2♭3456♭7R♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3
12345EADGBE35791215R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭345♭7R2♭3456♭7R♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3456♭7R2♭3

Position 1 is outlined, frets 0 to 3. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The E dorian key

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

  1. Emi
  2. F♯mii
  3. GIII
  4. AIV
  5. Bmv
  6. C♯dimvi°
  7. DVII

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • D major

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

  • B minor

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

  • A mixolydian

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

  • G lydian

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

  • F♯ phrygian

    Same notes, but home is F♯: dark, spanish, menacing.