stringery

A dorian

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

Minor but hopeful. Cool and groovy.

Root position4 of 5

571012

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

12345GCEA571012♭7R2♭3456♭7♭3456♭7R2♭356♭7R2♭345R2♭3456♭7R
12345GCEA571012♭7R2♭3456♭7♭3456♭7R2♭356♭7R2♭345R2♭3456♭7R

Position 4 is outlined, frets 9 to 12. 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.